Sources: Ex-Sunderland boss Parkinson is leading contender for Doncaster Rovers job | OneFootball

Former Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson is a leading contender for the Doncaster Rovers job, Football Insider can reveal.

The League One club are in the market for a permanent replacement for Darren Moore.

A source has told Football Insider Parkinson is considered to be a frontrunner for the post before the interview process begins.

Parkinson has been out of work since leaving the Black Cats at the end of November.

Doncaster have been managerless since Moore agreed to join Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at the beginning of last month.

After winning their first two games under temporary boss Andy Butler, their recent form has nosedived.

A 3-0 loss to relegation-threatened Burton Albion on Tuesday night marked their fifth consecutive defeat.

The club confirmed ahead of the game Butler will remain in charge until the end of the season.

They want to have an appointment in place and confirmed before the end of the campaign ready for next season.

Rovers’ recent form has seen them slump to 12th, eight points off the play-off positions.

Parkinson has extensive experience in League One with Colchester United, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.

The 53-year-old has managed 385 games in the division and has a win rate of 42.6 per cent.

He earned promotions out of the third-tier with Colchester and Bolton but left Sunderland last year with the club in eighth.

In other news, Kevin Phillips has tipped Sunderland to sign a striker and left-back as a 21-year-old is set to exit.