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Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris has confirmed that the club will not be appointing a direct replacement for Mike Dodds in the immediate future.
Dodds, 38, recently left the Stadium of Light to take over as Wycombe Wanderers’ new head coach, succeeding Matt Bloomfield.
Highly regarded within Sunderland’s coaching team, Dodds had previously been entrusted with interim managerial duties before Le Bris arrived in the summer.
His departure marks a significant change for Sunderland as they continue their campaign to secure promotion to the Premier League.
Le Bris Responds to Dodds’ Exit**
Rather than bringing in a new coach right away, Le Bris has opted to restructure his existing staff to compensate for Dodds’ absence. One of the key adjustments involves senior goalkeeping coach Alessandro Barcherini taking on a broader supporting role while maintaining his connection with the goalkeepers.
“Alessandro’s responsibilities will evolve,” Le Bris told *The Northern Echo*. “He will remain involved with the goalkeepers, as that’s integral to his role, but he will also contribute more as an assistant coach, which will benefit both him and the entire staff.”
Additionally, goalkeeping duties will now be shared, with Tom Weal stepping in to take on a greater role in training and development.
Further Coaching Adjustments at Sunderland**
Le Bris also revealed that assistant coach Pedro Ribiero would assume greater responsibility for opposition analysis, helping the team prepare for matches while the club evaluates its long-term coaching structure.
“Pedro’s role has shifted slightly—he is now in charge of opposition analysis,” Le Bris explained. “It’s too early to think about long-term changes, but for now, we are functioning well as a staff. At the end of the season, we’ll assess whether we need to adjust our setup.”
Sunderland’s Promotion Push Takes Priority**
Currently sitting fourth in the Championship and trailing the automatic promotion spots by eight points, Sunderland remains focused on securing a top-two finish. Given the critical stage of the season, bringing in a new coach now could disrupt the team’s rhythm.
While Dodds played a crucial behind-the-scenes role, Le Bris believes that maintaining stability within the current coaching staff is the best course of action. By waiting until the summer, Sunderland can avoid unnecessary distractions and dedicate all their efforts toward their promotion ambitions.
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