Speaking with The Northern Echo, Sunderland interim manager Mike Dodds discussed his future at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland has not recovered since Dodds was appointed. After losing both of Michael Beale’s previous two games in control, Dodds assumed the bench, but he has since seen his team suffer four more losses in a row.
Week after week, it seems like they have less and less possibility of finishing in the top six, therefore focus may soon shift to the upcoming season. The Black Cats will have another chance to strengthen their prospects of qualifying out of the Championship the following season during the summer transfer window.
And then there will be the decision made in the dugout. This season, Sunderland has had three managers thus far, so it appears that selecting the correct person for the position will be crucial going forward.
The current interim manager discussed his plans for both the team and his career in management in an interview with The Northern Echo.
He remarked, “I could back off, but that’s not who I am.”
“People ask, ‘Are you having fun?'” I’ve lost four games on the bounce, and it really damages your ego, so I’m not enjoying it. However, the pressure becomes rather addictive.
“One thing this has done is shown me that once you realise that the negativity isn’t going to help you progress or have clarity in what you’re trying to do, then you become really clear in your objectives. So, in terms of protecting myself, I think the best way to do that is just by being 100 per cent authentic and real in everything I do.”
Should Sunderland keep Dodds on?
If Sunderland finish the season strongly and Dodds shows what he is capable of then there is a chance that the club could keep him beyond the summer and into next season. But all will depend on what the final stretch of this current campaign brings.
So far he has been in charge for four games which have garnered four less than satisfactory results. They look to be in free-fall and so stopping the rot will be the main priority, and also keeping their play-off hopes alive before any decisions will be made on who is leading the team.
They went with experience at the start of the season with Tony Mowbray and they looked to be on course to seal a top six finish. Following this they went with a new upcoming manager in Beale and this didn’t go to plan. Therefore, rather than give Dodds the reins next time out, they could opt for a seasoned and experienced boss to give themselves the best chance of promotion.
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