Sporting Director outlines Sunderland academy vision to parents and weighs up key appointments

Speakman is believed to have held a zoom call this week, following his appointment last Friday.

Then, Speakman said that his primary focus will be on player development and retention.

He vowed to investigate why so many talented youngsters have opted to move elsewhere in the last two-and-a-half years, and said that the focus on improving the academy was the reason why he had been appointed by the 'ownership group', rather than a figure with a background primarily in player recruitment.

The club restructure is understood to be closely aligned with the expected change in majority shareholding of the club.

Speakman outlined his vision for the academy to parents, and insisted that it will be a huge focus for the club moving forward.

He is also understood to have told parents that there is no prospect of Sunderland following Birmingham's lead in remodelling their academy.

The Midlands club announced in a shock statement last night that they are will no longer run age group teams from U18 downwards.

Mirroring a similar decision made by Brentford, they will pivot to a 'B' and 'C' team model.

"The necessary resource and funding of the Academy has to make sense from a business perspective," the statement reads.

"The review has highlighted that in the current climate, with the associated costs of operating an academy system of ten different age groups, developing value is becoming increasingly difficult.

"As a direct response to the findings of the internal review, the Club will be looking at remodelling the Academy system and exploring a “B and C Team” model.

"We believe that the reallocation of both staff and subsidy, will provide the Football Club with a unique and unrivalled programme, catered towards an elite group of young players who will regularly challenge for positions in the First Team squad."

Prior to his departure, Speakman had been a key figure in their plans to upgrade from a Category Two to Category One operation, plans that have now been shelved.

It's believed that Mike Dodds, currenly Head of the Professional Development Phase at Birmingham City, could be set to follow Speakman to Wearside.

Head Coach Johnson confirmed on Saturday that there will be a bolstering of staff levels in the Academy, and there remains a vacancy for Academy Manager.

Sunderland interviewed for the role earlier this summer following the departure of Paul Reid, but CEO Jim Rodwell said that his preferred candidate had ultimately opted against taking the role.

“I offered the job to one individual who, for various reasons, wasn't in a position to accept," Rodwell said.

“I just wasn't convinced [about other candidates] and the one thing I'm absolutely not going to do is to employ somebody for the sake of employing somebody.

“It's exactly the same with the U18s coaching positions, although that process we're moving forward with at the moment anyway.

“I just wasn't convinced [about other candidates] and the one thing I'm absolutely not going to do is to employ somebody for the sake of employing somebody."

These appointments will now rest with Speakman as part of his broad remit.

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