Why a lack of communication & Ball for the Academy job?
While Sunderland are in League One, they are not going to be able to compete financially with other Category One clubs.
So an absolutely central part of the role of the academy manager will be to build strong relationships with players, parents and agents, to make them feel as if their future is at Sunderland even if the financial benefits are bigger elsewhere.
That’s going to take a lot of energy, charisma, care and dedication.
It’s a 24/7 job so hiring someone so deeply connected and engaged with the club seems like a good place to start. I think one of the better things the academy has done in the last couple of years is be more pro-active in securing good loan moves for youngsters.
Kevin Ball looks after that and seems to have done an excellent job.
Obviously, I’ve no idea whether it’s something Kevin Ball would actually want and at this stage, we don’t know who else will be in consideration and what skills they could offer.
Broadly, though, I think that kind of personality is exactly what’s needed.
You’ve raised a very good question that I don’t think there is an answer to just yet.
I noticed earlier this week that Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has urged EFL chair Rick Parry to set the date and I have to say, I think he’s absolutely right.
As we saw over the votes to end last season, there are too many conflicting interests at play to leave it up to the clubs.
There seems to be a genuine optimism around the September 12 date that the EFL have put forward, but with the heavy caveat that it is alongside some fans being allowed into the ground.
We will need some sort of decisive decision from the EFL soon if we’re going to hit that date.
Given the fact most clubs won’t have played since March, squads will have to be in training by the start of August at the latest to ensure an adequate pre-season. capacity, but I think everything that has happened since then has surely made that just about impossible.
The picture is concerning because those late Short years underlined how difficult it is to make good footballing decisions and implement good structures in that climate of uncertainty and dwindling investment.
We haven’t had anywhere near enough of that in the last two years anyway.
There's very little to be positive about with current ownership.
However, I can't help but think others might tumble harder than us as a result of the pandemic. Your thoughts?
I think that the government furlough scheme clearly has a bigger impact for other clubs, who can recoup a higher portion of their footballing and non-footballing salaries.
If football was to return in front of limited crowds, then that’s something which would clearly allow Sunderland to bring in more money than most of their rivals, given the size of the stadium etc.
They also, of course, have bigger cost bases than most and so the decline in revenue is a major issue.
Jim Rodwell has insisted that the ownership have the will and means to fund the club through the current crisis, but it has also been abundantly clear from a number of decisions that protecting cashflow has and continues to be a concern.
It’s a hugely uncertain time for all football clubs.
My own view is that it feels unlikely in the current climate.
There is a lot of talk and no doubt plenty of interest, but indications from club sources have not left me with much of an impression that there is much going on at an advanced stage.
The golden rule with takeovers though is that you tend not to hear about the ones that actually happen, so let’s see.