Sunderland hierarchy have made them an 'unattractive club' to coaches, says former star
Don Goodman has criticised the Black Cats hierarchy for making Sunderland an ‘unattractive’ club for high-quality coaches.
Whilst Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman have progressed the club overall since taking charge, few could deny that they have had an absolute nightmare campaign this season.
They sacked Tony Mowbray when things seemed to be going okay, replaced him with Michael Beale and sacked him after just 12 games.
Added to a transfer policy that saw that Black Cats replace experienced proven players such as Lynden Gooch, Danny Batth and Alex Pritchard with a plethora of young players who are not ready, and it is easy to see why the club are limping towards the end of the season with little to get excited about.
Speaking to King Casino Bonus, Goodman said: “Sunderland are rigid in their approach of only buying young players to sell them on and make a profit. That will not get you to the Premier League.
“It will make you self-sufficient and ensure your finances are solid but it will not get you anywhere near the Premier League.
“I hear that when Jack Clarke goes, Sunderland believe his replacement is already at the club and they will be developing somebody. As a fan, it's not what you want to hear.
“I understand why they want to go young and I'm not saying they need to have a team full of experience, but they need to modify their approach. Three or four senior players would give you a much better chance of success.”
Much of the attention between now and the end of the season will be on Sunderland’s search for a new head coach.
That will bring pressure and uncertainly, as well as a lot of scrutiny upon those running the club.
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One man who pretty much everyone agrees would be a perfect fit is former Nottingham Forest coach Steve Cooper, but Goodman doubts the Black Cats can attract him with the strategy they currently have.
“For a high-calibre manager, Sunderland is not an attractive job due to their policies and strategy,” he said.
“I've seen Steve Cooper linked and he's an ideal candidate being from an academy background, having worked effectively with young players and succeeded by guiding Swansea to the play-offs twice and taking Nottingham Forest from the bottom of the table to the Premier League.
“He knows the Championship and has a reputation for moulding young players, but is it an attractive job for Steve Cooper when he can't bring in the players he wants?
“I just cannot see how they will attract a manager of his pedigree. I hope they are already in the market and talking to prospective new managers.
“Mike Dodds will be desperate to put a run of results together and be in the conversation but he needs to put results together and quickly.”