Jim Rodwell pledges to take hands-on approach at Sunderland and explains what it means for Stewart Donald

Jim Rodwell has vowed to be a visible and engaging presence for both supporters and club staff.
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Rodwell has not been able to travel to Wearside since being confirmed as Sunderland’s new CEO last week, but has begun work and will be a daily presence at the club as soon as possible.

It has been a season of significant boardroom upheaval but Rodwell’s brief is to take on a day-to-day leadership role.

“This will be my job, I won’t have any others,” he said.

Sunderland's new CEO will be a visible figure for supporters and staffSunderland's new CEO will be a visible figure for supporters and staff
Sunderland's new CEO will be a visible figure for supporters and staff
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“I resigned from my positions at the EFL and FA last July so this is my job and it will matter to me desperately.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me and my working time will be on Wearside.

“I will be there, I’ll be at home games and away games, and will be accountable for that.”

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Rodwell has also offered to be a visible presence for both club staff and supporter groups.

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“I will be, I’ll be parking myself at Black Cat House for a period, but predominantly I will be at the Academy because that’s where the majority of staff are,” he said.

“I like being around people, and football is about people – the staff who work at the club, the players, the supporters, the media.

“Football clubs are not huge businesses in terms of turnover but when you look at how many people you need to employ to get that level of turnover and operate sucessfully, it is astonishing at times.

“You have to harness the power of those people.

“[Fan engagement] is something that I’ve discussed every day since my appointment,” he added.

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“It’s desperately important and we can’t achieve anything without those fans.

“I’ll be front and centre, meeting fans and groups.

“Fan engagement is crucial, I’m honest and straightforward and will tell people as much as I can tell them.”

Sunderland remains for sale, even though Stewart Donald has said he would like to retain a small stake if possible.

Rodwell says he will ‘always be involved’ but his arrival will see the chairman take a step back to a degree on the day-to-day running of the club.

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“Ultimately, he is the chairman of the football club and his raw passion and focus is on the football – he needs to have a handle on what is going on at the football club,” Rodwell said.

“But the day-to-day operational things, he can leave those in my hands, and Angela [Lowes] and Neil [Fox], and the rest of the senior management team.

“I think that’s what Stewart wants.

“I always say that my job as chief executive of any football club is to enable the owners to come to a game on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy themselves.

“They are paying other people to take some of the flak, to deal with some of the issues, count the paperclips, whatever.

“I will report to Stewart and since I have been in situ, I have spoken to Stewart most days, and to the SMT two or three times a day, because that’s how we are having to action it.”

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