Sunderland Echo

‘I'd like to be a head coach one day,butI'mnotgoingt­ochaseit’

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Sunderland secured an impressive 1-0 win over

West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon, bringing a tough week of fixtures to an encouragin­g end.

Mike Dodds has been asked regularly about his long-term future since taking over from Michael Beale and after the win against the Baggies, he gave his clearest response yet.

"Well, I'm going to go away with my partner and recharge," Dodds said.

"Have a bit of reflection time, which I think is really important because I've said that it's something I want to do in the future - but I'm not going to chase it.

"I'm very respectful of how difficult this position is, not just at this club but at any club. I'll be coming back as far as I'm aware, in a coaching capacity, and we'll go from there.

"I'm proud of some of the things I've managed that have been really difficult, there's some things that I need to reflect on. But I've always come back stronger and better from what's happened in my previous spells.

"I've said I want to be a head coach but I'm respectful of this club because it's a mammoth one, and takes a unique individual to manage all the things that come with it.

"I'd like to be a head coach one day and I'm confident that I can do it, and at some point when the timing is right I'm sure I'll get an opportunit­y to show what I can do."

The shape of what comes next now seems fairly clear.

Sunderland seem almost certain to make an external appointmen­t and though that candidate will have the latitude to bring a member of staff with them, they'll be expected to work with Dodds and the rest of the current coaching team.

Dodds is content with that, very much of the belief that he still has a lot he can learn and improve before he takes on the biggest role somewhere.

After a challengin­g period with injuries and suspension­s, the performanc­es against Leeds United and West Brom have shown his tactical acumen and underlined that he has the respect of the dressing room.

Dodds had confirmed earlier in the week that he had been involved in the initial planning meetings for next season, and gave some interestin­g insight into the initial mood behind the scenes about what comes next.

Things can change quickly in football but his and Sunderland's next steps now seem fairly clear. The key question for many supporters is whether the limited scope to shape the backroom team will deter any potential candidates time will tell.

Much of the first half at The Hawthorns was a fairly tough watch from a Sunderland perspectiv­e, with Alex Palmer almost entirely untested until Brandon Thomas-Asante's

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Dan Ballard.
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