Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’d go back to his former club Sunderland “in a heartbeat” - if he was out of contract.
McCarthy was in charge at the Stadium of Light between 2003 and 2006, leading the Black Cats, who sacked their latest manager Simon Grayson on Tuesday, to the Championship title in 2004/05.
Asked whether he’d go back to the Wearsiders, he responded: "I’m contracted here. Maybe if I was out of contract. Oh yeah, if I was out of contract and I was free and available, yes I’d go back in a heartbeat, I loved my time.
"But I’m not out of contract, I’m not free and available, so no, I wouldn’t be going back.”
After it was suggested that Sunderland making an approach for him wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility, he added: "Well, that’d please a few people, wouldn’t it, if they did, I suppose.
"No, with all the managers that are out of work? It’s not in my interest anyway. My interest is to get a result against Preston, to preserve my record here and what I’ve done and for us to start moving back up the league.
"I’m not looking for any other jobs. I’m not interested in that. But when I’m free and available, yes, I will be looking for another job and Sunderland would interest me, of course it would.”
McCarthy is contracted to Town until the end of the season with the club having an option to keep him for two further years.
Speaking last month, the 58-year-old said it wasn’t a fait accompli he’d stay with the Blues beyond the end of the season even if he were to be offered further terms, while dismissing suggestions that Town would be his final job in football.