Sunderland set sights on raising Academy of Light standards in search for new manager | OneFootball

Sunderland have set out plans to raise standards at the Academy of Light as they begin recruiting a new Academy Manager. Robin Nicholls will leave after four years to take up a role at New York City FC this summer.

"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." He Told BBC Radio Newcastle last week.

"We do want to nurture that North East talent so we can give them a pathway."

The club’s advert frames the role as building on strong foundations, with a push for elite recruitment, quicker development and regular progression into first-team football or other high-value outcomes. It stresses the focus is not firefighting or rebuilding systems, but raising the ceiling across the pathway.

Sunderland are again using the Executives in Sport Group to run the process, having previously worked with them on key hires such as Krisjtaan Speakman’s appointment as sporting director in 2020.

The successful candidate will report to director of football Florent Ghisolfi. Applications close on the first of May, with an appointment expected to be finalised before the summer.

Source: Sunderland Echo