Sunderland’s senior leadership have explained the academy plan amid major changes at the Academy of Light

Florent Ghisolfi says Sunderland’s academy remains a “pillar” of the club’s long-term strategy, but has admitted the Black Cats must improve significantly to close the gap between youth football and the Premier League.

The comments come amid a period of significant change at the Academy of Light. Former academy manager Robin Nicholls left for the MLS before being replaced by John Hewitson, while under-21s lead coach Graeme Murty is also expected to move on this summer as part of wider academy and coaching changes.

Ghisolfi, Sunderland’s director of football, has made clear that academy development is viewed as a central part of the club’s model. However, he also believes Sunderland must adapt quickly now that the first team has returned to the Premier League. “It’s also important for us,” Ghisolfi said when asked about the academy pathway.

“When I signed in Sunderland, from ownership, from Kyril, it was one pillar, the academy. So we are working on this. Of course, the club is growing, and I want to say the first team is growing fast, and now the gap between the under-21 and the academy globally and the Premier League at this level is huge. So we have to adapt. We know that we want to bring two players every season because of this level. So we are working at the moment to improve.”

“But again, the first priority is the human,” he said. “Because, for example, we spoke about problems. Problems are important. But the most important here is the energy, the commitment, the cohesion between us, not only in the club, but also with the environment, if I can say.

“So the first thing will be the person, the people. Commitment, knowledge, freshness. Also, it’s important always to refresh. You can have some people 20 years in the club, if they are able to refresh every year, to stay ambitious. If you feel that some people cannot have the step, you have to refresh.

“Refresh doesn’t mean we take always or often people from outside, in England or abroad, but also sometimes you will see people in the club who deserve to have the chance and to show that they can grow in the club. The academy is a pillar. But we have to improve a lot of things. It’s because we are in the path of some things that show us that we were not at our best, the best version of ourselves.”

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Interim chief executive Tom Burwell also underlined the importance of the academy, not only as a football department but as a key link between the club and its community. “And I talk on that because I think that that pillar is a huge pillar of connectivity with the community as well,” Burwell said.

“It can be the first entry point for a nine-year-old and what they go back and distil back to their community about what we stand for as a football club, irrespective of what plays out on the pitch for that nine or ten-year-old, is a hugely important part of that engagement.”

Asked whether the academy could also become a revenue driver for Sunderland, Burwell accepted that it could - but stressed that financial benefits would follow only if the club gets the wider culture right first. “Absolutely,” he said. “But to Flo’s point, when we’re talking about energy, community, alignment, revenue will follow. Get this bit right first, know what you’re standing for, know how you stand for that, revenue will follow.”

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