Recruitment dept set for overhaul as key duo leave
Sunderland’s recruitment department is set for a major overhaul, with Tony Coton and Richard Hill leaving the club.
The pair were two of StewartDonald’sfirstappointments to the football department after taking over the club.
Cotonhasbeenoperatingas headofrecruitmentafteraprevious stint at Aston Villa.
ThedepartureofHillisparticularlysignificantandmarks a major development behind the scenes at the club.
A close associate of Donald, Hill had numerous stints as manager at Eastleigh while Donald was chairman of the club.InhisroleasHeadofFootball Operations, he has led the club’stransferandcontractnegotiations, from the academy right up to first-team deals.
A club statement reads: “Sunderland AFC can confirm that Richard Hill and Tony Coton have left the club with immediate effect.
“Both joined SAFC in 2018, undertaking the roles of Head of Football Operations and Head of Recruitment, respectively. The board would like to place on record its gratitude to both Richard and Tony for their contribution and dedication over the past two years.
“All at SAFC wish them well in their future endeavours.”
The club have endured a mixed record in recruitment since the drop to the third tier, and it has long been a source of contention amongst supporters. There have also been a number of high-profile contractsagas,suchasthosewhich eventually led to the departures of key players Josh Maja and Jon McLaughlin.
Hill and Coton follow Paul Reid in leaving the club, with the former Eastleigh head of recruitment leaving his role as academy manager a fortnight ago.