Wear boss puts faith in club’s youth
SUNDERLAND’S talented academy crop simply has to be the club’s future, according to manager Chris Coleman.
Since arriving Coleman has given plenty of opportunities to the club’s younger prospects although with financial resources as they are he has had little choice.
With no money to spend, Coleman was only able to add five new players to his squad in the January transfer window despite the threat of relegation.
He spent a grand total of absolutely nothing.
Unless owner Ellis Short sells the club the situation in the summer will not change either, no matter which division the Black Cats find themselves in.
That makes the club’s academy such an important tool to Coleman.
While many in his position might baulk at the almighty task, the former Wales boss instead looks at it in a positive light for the club’s long-term future.
He said: “You can look at Sunderland and think of a club of its size at the bottom of the Championship - that is sad and that is bizarre.
“Yet on the plus side there are all these talented young boys coming through the youth system here.
“It is maybe too early for some of them to be playing week-in, week-out and expecting great results - but nevertheless they are gaining that experience.
“Where we stand there is no money to spend.
“So we are left looking at free transfers or loans or the academy and the young boys this club produces.
“There are still a few who are yet to come up with us in the first team but if they keep going the way they are they are going to have a heck of a chance of having first-team football with us very soon.
“The academy is something we are keeping a very close eye on.”
This past weekend has probably been better than any to drum into those in the youth ranks the value of working hard and taking their chances.
On Friday night two of the club’s brightest graduates lined up for England.
While Jordan Pickford earned his second cap and kept another Three Lions clean sheet, Jordan Henderson strengthened his position to earn the England captaincy on a permanent basis with a solid display.