Roker Roundup: DoF linked with ‘failed’ Mark Campbell Sunderland takeover finds himself a job

Cochrane concentrating on current club

Sunderland have been linked with a loan move for Brighton and Hove Albion left-back Alex Cochrane recently, as Lee Johnson looks to add competition to that position following Denver Hume’s injury set-back.

Cochrane is currently on-loan at Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and featured for the club on Saturday during their friendly win over Vincent Kompany’s Anderlect.

The 20-year-old played the full game and speaking to RUSG’s official website afterwards said he and the team will be ready for the league to restart after the winter break:

It was a good performance overall. Personally, the 90 minutes are really good! Playing the whole game is really beneficial.

We will analyze this match and we will be ready for the second round, because we have objectives to fulfill.

Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images

Academy products on the move

Sunderland academy product Dan Casey has departed Irish side Bohemians to sign a deal with USL outfit Sacramento Republic.

The 23-year-old will complete his move once the club receive league approval and the player receives his visa.

Speaking to SunSport about the transfer, Casey explains that it was a hard decision to leave Bohemians but revealed that he learned so much more from playing senior football with the Irish side than he ever did at Sunderland:

I had never really thought of America as an option until my agent mentioned it three or four weeks ago.

To be honest, it was a hard decision to leave Bohs because I’ve loved it there and they’ve signed well so it looks like they’re going to have another good season.

I’ve learned a lot in the league from my time with Bohs and Cork, more than I did at Sunderland.

That’s no disrespect to Sunderland but men’s football is very ­different from academy football and I’m going over there with nearly 100 first-team games under my belt now.

I’ve spoken to the manager and he says that the team like to play and get after teams, which isn’t too dissimilar to Bohs, so hopefully I’ll fit right in.

Meanwhile, former Sunderland midfielder Martin Smith has left League Two Salford City to move to National League club Chesterfield.

Smith spent 18 months at Salford and had a loan spell at Chorley during his time at the club but the 25-year-old has now joined up with James Rowe’s side.

Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Polish move for Park

Mark Campbell had attempted to takeover Sunderland in the summer of 2019 but for the deal to fall through and has recently been linked with a buyout of Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.

Some of the details of Campbell’s prospective takeover from Stewart Donald emerged after the fact, with former Celtic talent spotter John Park said to be coming in as Director of Football and Campbell himself later telling the Sunderland Echo that they were looking to bring in the likes of Marcus Maddison, Lawrence Shankland and Joe Aribo.

Although that deal broke down and Campbell is hoping to takeover WBA, Park will not be joining him in the Midlands as he has taken up the role as Head of International Scouting of Polish side Legia Warsaw.

Daily Record