Sam Allardyce says he would be open to to an approach from Sunderland about their vacant manager's position.
The former Bolton and Newcastle boss, 54, is among the favourites to replace Roy Keane, who resigned on 5 December.
Allardyce told the Bolton News: "There has been no official contact but I know what a great club it is.
"I've worked there twice before; once as a player and once as a coach with Peter Reid, so I know what it needs. We will just have to wait and see."
Allardyce, who has been out of work since leaving the Magpies in January, had a short playing spell at Sunderland making 25 appearances in the 1980-81 season.
He added: "I've said over the last few days that I would like to get back into managing a football club and I'm bound to be linked with Sunderland at the moment.
Who will get the Sunderland job?"There's been one or two positions I've talked about but I haven't felt it was right for me to go at that particular time or for whatever reason.
"I really feel I'm ready now."
Hull City boss Phil Brown, former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley, and ex-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier are also in the frame for the Black Cats job.
Brown's Hull side are currently enjoying a fine start to their debut Premier League season with the Tigers sixth in the table.
Curbishley quit as West Ham manager in September after becoming disillusioned with the club's transfer policy.
And Houllier is currently working for the French Football Federation after ending a successful spell in charge of Lyon in May 2007.
Coach Ricky Sbragia, assisted by Neil Bailey and former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, is in charge in the interim while Quinn searches for a replacement.
Keane ended his 27-month reign after a run of poor form that saw Sunderland lose five of their last six games with him in charge and slip into the Premier League relegation zone.
The former Manchester United midfielder hinted at his departure after his side's 4-1 loss to Bolton on 29 November and despite nearly 48 hours of talks with Quinn and the board at Sunderland he ended his tenure at the Stadium of Light.
606: DEBATEQuinn has already begun the unenviable task of trying to find a manager who has the right credentials to replace Keane and admits it is a difficult task.
"Obviously, to find somebody to fill Roy's shoes, there are various components," said Quinn.
"Of course, to be a good manager, but in terms of the box office, that's going to be a tough one.
"When all is said and done - Roy's said it and I have said it - this club isn't about Roy Keane, isn't really about Niall Quinn.
"Yes, it's maybe about the fans, but the club is the big, big thing."
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