Sunderland confirm AoL appointment as Speakman revolution continues
The Black Cats have confirmed another addition to the set-up at the Academy of Light.
Sunderlandannouncedthe appointment of Mike Dodds as the club’s head of individual playerdevelopmentastherevolutionattheAcademyofLight under sporting director Kristjaan Speakman continues.
The newly created role will see Dodds will on ‘personalised development’ across the club’s Under-18s and Under23s teams. And Dodds will also be tasked with identifying and implementing bespoke programmes for each individual player based on their unique requirements.
Dodds has worked with EFL clubs Coventry City and Birmingham City and has carried out duties with the Football Association by presenting on various courses.
Head of coaching Stuart
English said: “Mike has a fantastic enthusiasm for player development.
"He’s incredibly well respected and naturally had opportunitieselsewhere,soitisa great endorsement of what we are doing that he felt this was the right place for him.
“In addition to the teams, his focus will be on the individual aspects of our coaching programme across the Under18s and Under-23s, ensuring that each player receives an optimised and personalised development programme.
"We believe he will be a valuable addition to our existing backroom team and we are delightedtowelcomehimtoSunderland AFC.”
Dodds joins a set-up that includes Speakman and English, alongside head of player recruitment, Stuart Harvey, and head coach Lee Johnson.
*Sunderland duo Tom Flanagan
and Corry Evans have been called up to the Northern Ireland squad. But there was no place in the squad for Carl Winchester despite his excellent form at right-back for Lee Johnson’s side.
The call-ups, however, cast doubt over whether Sunderland’s clash with Oxford United at the Stadium of Light next Saturday will go ahead.
LeagueOneclubsmusthave three international call-ups to request a postponement. Duringthelastinternationalbreak, the Wearsiders’ clash with Sheffield Wednesday was rescheduled.
That’s after Evans and Flanagan were called up for Northern Ireland, whilst Niall Huggins was selected to play for Wales’ U23s team. Callum Doyle was also included in the EnglandU19ssquad,whileCirkin was given the nod for England’s U20s squad.