Michael Proctor and Mike Dodds have been appointed as first-team coaches as part of a backroom staff restructure at Sunderland. The duo worked with head coach Alex Neil and his assistant Martin Canning last season as the club earned promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.
And following the departure of previous first-team coach Phil Jevons over the summer, the Black Cats have promoted the pair to first-team duties on a full-time basis. Neil said: "Mike and Michael played an integral part in last season's promotion-winning campaign and this is a deserved progression for them both.
"They stepped up during an immensely challenging period last season, combining their roles in the senior team with their duties for the Under-21s, and throughout my time at the club, they have been first class. They will continue to play an important part in any success that we collectively enjoy, and I look forward to working with them closely to ensure we experience exactly that."
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In addition, Dodds will oversee individual player development and the pathway from the U21s to the first-team, while Proctor will co-ordinate the club's loan programme. Goalkeeping coach David Preece also left the club over the summer, and the Wearsiders are yet to announce a full-time replacement although Mark Prudhoe has taken on the role on an interim basis.
With Dodds and Proctor promoted, Sunderland are seeking to appoint a senior professional development phase coach and a professional development coach to work with the club's U21 side. Under 18 coach John Hewitson will continue to be assisted by former SAFC Women head coach Carlton Fairweather, who returned to the club last season.
Jordan Moore has been appointed youth development phase lead, overseeing the club's U12 to U16 programme, and he continues to lead the Under-15s and Under-16s as cell Lead. Several other changes have also been made within the club's youth development and foundation phases, with Finbarr Lynch moving into the role of U13 and U14 cell lead, and Alex Ackerley joining the academy on a full-time basis as individual development coach.
Nathan Thomas will continue to oversee the club's foundation phase, including acting as U9 and U10 cell lead, with Jonjo Dickman now installed in the role of U11 and U12 cell lead. Sunderland's head of coaching Stuart English said: "We remain as determined as ever to establish an elite coaching and development programme at the Academy of Light.
"Fresh knowledge and ideas are important, but we also believe that investing in our existing staff is equally valuable as we look to combine first-class coaching and player development with a strong knowledge of Sunderland AFC and the region we represent."
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