Inside crucial recruiting and appointments at the Academy
regardstofootball,isalsogoing to have an impact.
Thereis,quitesimply,amajor amount of rebuilding to be done in the academy and given the events of the previous two years, it is both a major opportunity and also a cause for concern. In the current climate, progress has been slow and that has left many with reservations about what is to come next.
The first step this summer lookssettobetheappointment of a new Academy Manager. Senior club sources have indicated a recognition that the new manager will need to be experienced in academy football, an area that was lacking when Reid, formerly Donald’s head of recruitment at Eastleigh, was appointed in 2018.
There is also a recognition that the role is one with such demands that a permanent presence on Wearside is absolutely essential. Indeed, this was part of the job advert posted by the club earlier this month.
This is another area where improvement is needed, particularlygivenhowmuchofthe games programme in the lower age groups takes place on a weekend. This is a vital chance to build relationships and this another key task for the new appointment. It goes back to Sunderland and the question of their USP.
Right now, it’s not about financesandsoithastobeabout offering an environment that players and their parents do not want to leave.
As one academy source said: ”The main thing [needed from a new appointment] is to establish and build a pathway for players instead of selling them on the cheap and young, which is devaluing the tremendous history, staff and work that goes on in the building. There’s things that need doing in the short term for the longer term importance of the academy.”
Clearly, that also requires support at boardroom level. A newappointmentwillmakelittledifferenceunlessthedesire toretainplayersandmaximise their future value comes from the top.
There is a significant rebuild ahead at first-team level this summer, and even greater one required in the U18 and U23teams.Perhapsunsurprisinglyafterthetorridcampaign for both, there have been a significant number of players released from both.
Of those who were offered new deals, Jordan Hunter has opted to pursue first-team football at South Shields and it seems certain that Benji Kimpioka will move elsewhere, too. Kimpioka’s camp have insisted that his U23 days are over and that he will not sign unless he is made a first-team squad member. All of which leaves a need for investment and significant reinforcements, yet progress hasbeenslowandSunderland appear to be losing ground on other clubs.
The situation is complicated given that there is no return date for the youth team games.
On Wearside, Ged McNamee, who returned to the setup earlier this year as the new head of recruitment, has been on furlough leave alongside a significant number of the club’s staff. His other recruitment staff have also been on furlough.
As such, a number of deals that some progress had been madeonhavenottravelledany further.
There was interest in the Hartlepool United pair Josh Hawkes and Kenton Richardson, who are currently free agents.
It is understood that the club have also been keen on a dealforformerBurnleystriker Will Harris, who had a trial at the club earlier in the season.
The list of targets is already beginning to shorten as other clubs begin to make their moves.
TheEchoknowsofoneplayerwhohadbeenexpectingand
preparing to hold talks with the Black Cats, but amid the uncertainty has agreed a deal elsewhere.
Former Liverpool player Niall Brookwell was a midfielder on the shortlist compiled by academy staff for the summer, but he has now joined Newcastle United. Another,talentedManchester United defender Ben Hockenhull, has now joined Brentford B, who shut down their academy in 2016, citing the unfairness of the EPPP system and the ease with which big Premier League clubs could pick off the best talent for a relative pittance.
Their alternative method has had impressive results in getting players into the firstteam environment.
Thathasledtosomeunderstandable concern behind the scenes, with one staff member saying: “There’s a current concern with the lack of depth and quality. There’s been no reinvestment from the club and it’s been left without the vision that’s needed and warranted with the past results and player development plans that no longer get discussed or developed.
“There’s no recognition of the value and importance of the academy and how it could be an even bigger asset to the club for the future.”
* See Thursday's Echo for the fourth and final part of our series on the Academy.