Report says Sunderland lining up Birmingham City man to join Kristjaan Speakman’s backroom team

Sunderland could be set to raid Birmingham City once again with reports linking Mike Dodds with a move to the Academy of Light.

Dodds is Head of the Professional Development Phase at the Blues but according to The Athletic, he is being lined up to follow Kristjaan Speakman to Sunderland.

Speakman joined Sunderland last week as the club’s new Sporting Director and he and Dodds worked together at Birmingham, with Speakman explaining to the official Birmingham website earlier in the year what Dodds brings to the table:

In Mike we have someone who is an exceptional coach with a deep understanding of player development and the pathway through to the senior squad.

The combination of him and our lead coaches at each age group really strengthens our programme moving forward.

Sunderland are still looking for a new Academy Manager following the departure of Paul Reid earlier in the year and should Dodds arrive, he will likely fill that position.

Following Speakman’s departure, Birmingham have released a club statement saying that they will undergo a review of their entire academy, which was striving to become a Category 1 academy but may now shelve their youth set-up altogether.