The vital positions that remain vacant at Sunderland as season begins with more takeover uncertainty

In the world of Sunderland AFC, it has brought some welcome familiarity.

Debates over central midfield partnerships, fury with opposition timewasting and just how do you get the best out of that frontline?

With three challenging fixture on the horizons, those discussions will not be abating anytime soon.

Sunderland, though, have started this most unusual of seasons in a particularly uncertain position.

Supporters still wait for substantive news over a takeover they were initially told would be completed before the season began, while also waiting for updates on three pivotal club positions that remain unfilled.

As it stands, Sunderland are without:

- An Academy Director

- A Head of Recruitment

- A Chair of the club board

So what's going on?

The first thing to say is that in all those areas of the club, work has been ongoing despite those key vacancies.

Despite the ongoing takeover talk, this has never felt like the summer of 2019, when key figures were left effectively hamstrung as Mark Campbell arrived on Wearside to try and conclude a deal to take a majority shareholding from Stewart Donald.

The inside track on what’s happening at the AoL

In the academy, for example, recruitment has in recent weeks finally stepped up.

Though some key targets went elsewhere while head of recruitment Ged McNamee and his team were on furlough leave, the U23 ranks have belatedly been bolstered.

It is encouraging, too, to see that former Hartepool United pair Kenton Richardson and Josh Hawkes have arrived. Both were key targets right from the very start of the summer, and while the quality in the group generally will not be clear until the season gets under way next week, there is at least some real experience of senior football in that group.

Two years of decline under the Madrox regime have taken a major toll on the academy and have, at long last, forced something of a rethink.

It's a process which has involved CEO Jim Rodwell, manager Phil Parkinson and the board's non-executive directors.

Parkinson recently highlighted the new goal that has come from those discussions. To bring the U23 group closer to the first team, by replicating the same shape and style of play. Key, too, is investing in U21 talent that can avoid the salary cap rules and therefore strengthen both groups.

The logic is that it will help produce a clearer pathway to the first team and better results at U23 level (on both counts, it's too early too judge words against actions).

New leadership, though, is critical.

Rodwell himself has said that the new appointment will be key in building relationships and attempting to prevent yet more debilitating departures from the key age groups.

A final round of interviews for candidates was understood to be held almost a fortnight ago, and yet there has been so sign of an appointment.

In recruitment and on the board, it is a similiar story: Work ongoing, but with an appointment needed.

The changing shape of Sunderland’s recruitment outlook

Tony Coton and Richard Hill left the club shortly after Paul Reid's departure, a series of moves that entirely dismantled Donald's decision-making network on the football side of the club.

Most supporters saw that as a positive move and a lot of the work has since been taken up by Rodwell and David Jones.

There have been some welcome signs of a shift in approach to recruitment, with Arbenit Xhemajli the most high-profile example of a shift to using wider networks, more analytics and a recognition of the needs to create 'value' in the team if the club is to be self-sufficient in the future.

Jones for his part has spoken openly of his initial frustrations after joining the board and the optimism he has subsequently felt in recent months. Xhemajli’s arrival was a reflection that.

Parkinson, though, has been clear that the recruitment team needs strengthening and for a club of Sunderland's size and potential, that is inarguable.

On the board, there is a legitimate question to ask as to what exactly would be expected by a chair.

Donald's decision to step down was clearly a response to the continued decline in his relationship with the supporters, accelerated by a heated meeting earlier in the summer.

Yet as majority shareholder his influence remains and in Rodwell, there is finally the day-to-day leadership that was so clearly lacking for the first two years of the Madrox tenure.

It seems strange, though, that there has been no update on the issue since July, when a statement said a new appointment would be confirmed after the next board meeting.

What’s going on and what next?

So what is the delay on all of these issues?

Discussing the club's recruitment structure earlier this month, Parkinson strongly suggested that the delay in appointing a new head of recruitment was down to the ongoing uncertainty as to when fans will be allowed to return.

Once that was settled, he suggested, then some progress would be expected.

The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic remain major and the prospect of significant attendances in the near future is feeling only more distant by the day.

All clubs, as a result, will be wary of the financial challenges they could face over the winter and in that regard, Sunderland are absolutely no different.

Fans have also wondered whether the takeover limbo is having an impact.

That again remains unclear but consider this.

In January, when the club released a statement confirming the beginning of the sale process, fans were told there would be no further updates 'until a preferred bidder was identified'.

Despite a sale being said to be said to be close, there has been no official update of any sort.

Supporters again left to wonder what lies ahead for their club.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club every single day, home and away, 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at the Sunderland Echo, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package.

You'll find all the details at sunderlandecho.com/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Richard Mennear

Football Clubs Editor