Sunderland wrapped up an impressive 1-0 victory against West Brom on Saturday, concluding a challenging week of matches on a positive note. Following the game, Dodds addressed inquiries about his future, providing his most definitive response yet.
“Well, I’m going to go away with my partner and recharge,”
Dodds said.
“Have a bit of reflection time, which I think is really important because I’ve said that it’s something I want to do in the future – but I’m not going to chase it. I’m very respectful of how difficult this position is not just at this club but at any club. I’ll be coming back as far as am I’m aware in a coaching capacity and we’ll go from there. I’m proud of some of the things I’ve managed that have been really difficult, there’s some things that I need to reflect on. But I’ve always come back stronger and better from what’s happened in my previous spells.
“I’ve said I want to be a head coach but I’m respectful of this club because it’s a mammoth one, and takes a unique individual to manage all the things that come with it. I’d like to be a head coach one day and I’m confident that I can do it, and at some point when the timing is right I’m sure I’ll get an opportunity to show what I can do.”
The trajectory of Sunderland’s next steps appears quite defined at this point. It’s highly likely that the club will seek an external appointment for their coaching position. While the incoming candidate may have the flexibility to bring in their own assistant, they’ll be expected to collaborate with Dodds and the existing coaching staff. Dodds is comfortable with this arrangement, firmly believing that he still has much to learn and refine before stepping into a more prominent managerial role elsewhere. Despite facing challenges like injuries and suspensions recently, the displays against Leeds and West Brom have highlighted his tactical prowess and reaffirmed his standing within the team.
Dodds had previously indicated that he participated in the initial discussions regarding plans for the upcoming season. He offered intriguing insights into the initial sentiments within the team about their future direction. While circumstances in football can shift rapidly, both Dodds’ and Sunderland’s next moves appear relatively defined now. A crucial aspect that many fans are pondering is whether the restricted flexibility in forming the backroom staff might discourage potential candidates. Only time will reveal the answer to this question.