---
title: "Sunderland: Jim Rodwell calms Academy of Light fears"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-jim-rodwell-calms-academy-of-light-fears/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "League One News"
published: "2020-07-02T12:40:28Z"
modified: "2020-07-02T12:40:28Z"
---

# Sunderland: Jim Rodwell calms Academy of Light fears

**Sunderland chief executive officer Jim Rodwell has calmed concerns over the future of the club’s academy status after Paul Reid [left his role](https://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2020/june/paul-reid-leaves-safc) as academy manager.**

The 2019/2020 season has proved to be a disastrous one for the Black Cats in every aspect, following on from a much documented fall from the Premier League to the Championship and then down to League One.

A second consecutive failure to gain promotion will see the Wearsiders look to bounce back next term, but it is not just the first team who have struggled.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”305354″\]

Both the under-18 and under-23 side’s failed to win a single game in their respective league’s this term, prompting academy manager [Reid to leave his role](https://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2020/june/paul-reid-leaves-safc) with immediate effect earlier this week.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Following Reid’s exit and a whole host of [young talents](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/promising-goalkeeper-agrees-new-deal-sunderland-announce-string-key-academy-contract-calls-2892221) to have left the club over the last 12 months, Rodwell has now attempted to calm fears of the academy’s category one status.

*“We are absolutely committed to the academy and our category one status,”* Rodwell is quoted as saying by [Sunderland Echo.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderlands-ceo-responds-concerns-over-academy-status-and-discusses-replacing-paul-reid-2901155)

*“Having a category one academy in League One is difficult but that is what we are committed.* *Next season we will be a Category One academy, simple as that, and we are committed beyond that as well.*

*“We know we need to improve, we are absolutely aware of that. We need to address some of the things that went wrong last season.* *It is difficult because once we get to the 16 age group, that’s when the City’s and United’s start investing serious money.*

*“It is difficult to compete but there are things we can do differently.”*

Another player set to leave the club this summer is young academy talent Bali Mumba having been allowed to be [pursued by Premier League Norwich City](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/norwich-city-agree-ps350000-deal-sunderland-youngster-bali-mumba-new-contract-details-emerge-2894529), who are said to have agreed a transfer fee.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Whilst Jim Rodwell’s comments are needed, fans of the club will now be concerned with the incredible failure and departures at academy level.

Not a single win from either the under-18 or under-23 side’s does not bode well moving forward and whilst those levels are all about development, you can hardly blame fans for looking negatively on the academy at the present time.

***What do you think is next for the academy? Let us know in the comments section below…***