Academy coaches Mark Prudhoe and Michael Proctor are set to step up to first-team duties as Alex Neil shakes up his backroom staff ahead of his first full season in charge of Sunderland. ChronicleLive revealed last week that goalkeeping coach Preece was leaving Wearside along with first-team coach Phil Jevons - although there has been no formal announcement by the club.
But in the meantime the hugely-experienced Prudhoe has been working with first-choice keeper Anthony Patterson, and he is likely to be handed the job on a permanent basis. Likewise, Proctor has also stepped up from his role coaching the U23s to work with the first team, and he is expected to fill the gap left by Jevons.
Prudhoe is the man who oversaw the development of Jordan Pickford as he rose through Sunderland's academy ranks to become the Black Cats' first-choice keeper and, following a £30m move to Everton in 2017, ultimately establish himself as England's number one. Prudhoe has also been instrumental in Patterson's career as the 22-year-old followed in Pickford's footsteps to graduate from the academy and take over as Sunderland's regular keeper in the second half of last season.
