Sunderland outline academy vision as hunt begins for new Academy Manager | OneFootball

Sunderland have set out plans to elevate the Academy of Light while advertising for a new Academy Manager to lead the next phase.

'From 16 we can recruit nationally. When they turn 18 we can look further afield and at the moment we have a player on trial from Asia. We do want to nurture that North East talent so we can give them a pathway.' He told BBC Radio Newcastle last week.

The club have begun the search to replace Robin Nicholls, who has spent four years in the role and will leave this summer to join New York City FC. Nicholls is highly regarded, and the brief is not firefighting or a rebuild.

Sunderland are working with the Executives in Sport Group on the hire, having previously used them for key appointments such as Krisjtaan Speakman’s arrival as sporting director in 2020. The new manager will report to director of football Florent Ghisolfi.

The role is framed around building on strong safeguarding, education and operational structures, with an emphasis on elite recruitment, accelerated development and consistent progression into first-team football or high-value professional outcomes.

Applications close on May first, with an appointment expected to be finalised ahead of the summer.

Source: Sunderland Echo