Liddle Given The Boot As Youth Team Coach

Having arrived last summer as Martin O'Neill attempted to revamp the club behind the scenes, former Darlington manager Craig Liddle is to be replaced as youth team coach having been deemed surplus to requirements.

Liddle has had a good record with young players. Having spent time as the main manager of Darlington during their troubled period he always said that he preferred to work with youth players and focus on the future. The role at Sunderland seemed almost made for him.

He guided the youngsters to the Academy league playoffs where they beat a strong Aston Villa side and came within a whisker of the final after being beaten by Fulham in a rip-roaring 4-3 defeat at Craven Cottage.

Liddle also saw success in seeing some of his players rise rapidly through the ranks at Sunderland. Admittedly several of these were through injury rather than exceptional development, but it must have been a tremendous moment of pride to see two of his former Darlington proteges in Scott Harrison and David Ferguson both be on the bench for the final game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.

Liddle also worked with the likes of Jordan Laidler, Mikael Mandron, Adam Mitchell and Liam Marrs. All of whom were involved on the fringes of the first team towards the end of the season.

Sunderland are reportedly going to appoint a new youth team coach from within, but there should also be further changes as the club reviews the status of everyone who works with the club on and off the field this summer.