Alex Neil wanted by Stoke City: Everything Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has previously said about Neil's rolling contract and Championship plans

Neil has been given permission to speak to the Potters about the vacant position and is the clear favourite with bookmakers to take charge at the bet365 Stadium.

Sunderland are preparing to face Neil’s former club Norwich City at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, yet Neil’s Friday press conference was pushed back to 2pm when it was originally scheduled for 9am at the Academy of Light.

Reporters were told that Neil was held up in a meeting before the squad’s training session that morning.

The Athletic have since claimed there is growing concern on Wearside that Neil is likely to depart and fill the vacancy at Stoke.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has also reported Neil has been given permission to speak to the Potters, while Sunderland are hopeful they can keep the Scot.

Neil - who led Sunderland to the Championship with a play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers in May - signed a 12-month rolling contract when he took charge at Sunderland in February, and the issue has come under the spotlight with fans concerned he could be about to depart.

Back in May after the League One play-off final victory, Sunderland’s sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said he had held positive talks with Neil about Sunderland’s first campaign back in the Championship.

In an in-depth interview with the Echo, Speakman touched on the club’s plans, while also addressing concerns around Neil’s rolling contract.

This is what he said ahead of the Championship season:

“We've got a lot of clarity around what we are, how we're working and what the strategy is,” Speakman said.

“Naturally it's a big step up the Championship because it's a completely different entity.

“Alex has managed in the Championship and he understands what the requirements are, and it's about how we make the transition.

“I think we're really aligned on how we do that.

“I spent all of Sunday night speaking to Alex about how we do that, all of Monday morning about that.

“We see a lot of it very, very similarly.

“It's then just about executing it. I think it's natural that any head coach [would want clarity].

“We hadn't had loads of discussions about the Championship because we had to be respectful of the fact that we have incredibly tough games against Sheffield Wednesday in play-off semi finals, and then again against Wycombe in the final.

“My job is to plan for the future and his job is to try and win those games. That's where that balance is between the head coach implementing what we're trying to do and getting the team in the best position, which he has been incredibly good at doing, and then for the likes of myself, Stuart [Harvey], Steve [Davision] getting us in a position so that we're not starting from scratch, which we’re not.

“That's effective organisation.

“We ran a really rigorous recruitment process because we wanted to get the right person for the job.

“Alex has demonstrated he was the right person.”

What was said about the rolling contract Neil signed?

Speakman, speaking in May, said the situation is ‘always’ under review but hinted that he does not expect the two parties to agree a new long-term deal in the near future.

He insisted then that everyone was happy with the current arrangement.

“I absolutely understand the sentiment of the question,” Speakman said.

“Take Alex out of the equation for a second and talk about the principle of it. You see people all the time come out and say, it's a six-year contract or it's a four-year contract or however long. But there's a three-month pay off.... so it's a three-month contract!

“You can sell an agreement any which way you want. What's important is that all the individuals involved are happy with the agreement, and with a 12-month rolling contract Alex is tied down.

“Alex has been an incredible part of our journey and he deserves every accolade he's getting.

“He's a fundamental part of what we're doing. At the minute, everyone is happy [with the contract].

“It’s all systems go on the future at the moment. We knew we were taking a Championship manager back in February because we wanted to be ready for this moment.”

What did Neil say back in May ahead of the new Championship season?

Asked if he would be seeking assurances before committing to the new campaign, head coach Neil said: “It was easy for me coming here because I felt that with the squad, I could do the job.

“I walked in the door and it was, 'here's the squad, win games'. I said, 'no problem'. When transfer windows up, when you're going up to a new level, it's very different.

“There's got to be work, investment, different facets that can make you competitive.

“If you're doing a job, you want the tools and I'm no different.

“That's where we're at.”

Sunderland host Norwich City at the Stadium of Light on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off (12.30pm) with the Black Cats looking to build on their impressive start to the season, including a victory over Stoke City last weekend.