Sunderland Supporters' Collective Meeting: New ‘head of grounds’ appointed plus Florent Ghisolfi's message to squad | OneFootball

Sunderland fan groups met club leaders in mid-May, with a new head of grounds appointed and Florent Ghisolfi's pre-season message outlined.

According to Sunderland Echo, interim CEO Tom Burwell and director of football Ghisolfi attended the Supporters’ Collective Meeting, which also covered club finances and a potential Stadium of Light expansion.

The club has recruited a head of grounds, with pitches to be improved to meet expectations at the top end of Premier League standards. A supporter praised former sporting director Kristjaan Speakman’s significant work on the academy and player development, and asked for that detail to continue.

Burwell underlined the academy’s importance, with responsibility now sitting with Ghisolfi, and said the transition had been anticipated as the pair worked together. The scouting team now numbers 10 and the club is hiring a head of the academy. He added that academy players need to be ready to perform at a top 10 Premier League level.

The club’s wider operation was framed as competing weekly with 19 other Premier League teams across security, events and engagement, with on-field standards guiding business. Before the first game of the season, Ghisolfi told players to “Be Sunderland” and prioritise daily standards and representation, believing results would follow. He also believes the club can aim high again after learning of its historic standing, while Burwell works to embed a high-performance culture with heart and humility.

Source: Sunderland Echo