MIKE DODDS is set to leave Sunderland’s coaching staff in order to take over as the new head coach of League One side Wycombe Wanderers.
Dodds has been lined up to take over at Wycombe, who have been looking for a new permanent boss since Matt Bloomfield left to take over at Luton Town in the middle of last month.
Wycombe officials are understood to have made a formal approach to the Sunderland hierarchy to discuss Dodds’ position.
Black Cats head coach Regis Le Bris values Dodds’ input and has enjoyed working with the former interim boss. However, Le Bris does not want to stand in Dodds’ way as he looks to pursue his own coaching career and Sunderland sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, will not prevent the 38-year-old from moving to Adams Park.
A deal should be tied up in the next few days, with Dodds keen to take up his first permanent head-coach position with Wycombe, who are pushing for promotion in League One. The Chairboys drew 1-1 with Cambridge United this afternoon and currently sit in second position in the third tier.
Dodds started his coaching career in the youth ranks at Coventry City and joined Birmingham City’s academy set-up in 2009.
He initially joined Sunderland as the head of player development in the summer of 2021, and stood in as caretaker boss after the departures of both Lee Johnson and Tony Mowbray.
His longest stint in interim charge came in the second half of last season, when he took charge of first-team affairs following the dismissal of Michael Beale.
Dodds was unable to prevent Sunderland sliding down the table in the latter stages of last term, but was retained as part of the senior coaching set-up under Le Bris.
It remains to be seen whether he will be replaced if he completes his proposed move to Wycombe. Sunderland moved to strengthen their senior coaching ranks earlier this season, appointing Pedro Ribeiro to an assistant head coach role alongside Dodds. Michael Proctor and goalkeeping coach Alessandro Barcherini currently complete the Black Cats’ senior coaching group.
