SUNDERLAND will decide whether or not to replace Mike Dodds within the next fortnight.

Dodds quit his post as deputy head coach earlier this week to take over League One promotion contenders Wycombe Wanderers.

Following the resignation of the three-time temporary manager, Sunderland’s senior coaching staff currently consists of assistant head coach Pedro Ribeiro, who was hired last autumn, first-team coach Michael Proctor, and goalkeeping coach Alessandro Barcherini.

There is potential to bring in a straight successor for Dodds, but Regis Le Bris has opted to spend a few weeks to consider his alternatives before making a suggestion to sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.

“It was probably a tough decision (for Dodds to leave), because we really enjoyed the connection with Doddsy during the last few months,” according to the Sunderland manager. “With his journey, it was evident that he wanted to be a head coach, and when the opportunity arose, he had to make a decision. We respect that.

“I believe our workforce is doing well right now. Pedro joined us a little later, but he is already well linked with the rest of the team. We will find a solution. We are still talking about the new setup. Is hiring a new assistant a good idea? To be honest, I am not sure at the moment; we shall see. We’ll probably settle on the final setup over the next seven to 10 days.”

Meanwhile, Le Bris is urging Sunderland’s players to take greater responsibility for themselves, especially when it comes to changing tactics during a game.

“It is not ideal to lose someone like that, but at the same time, that is the way our professional life goes,” he told me. “When possibilities arise, you must make difficult decisions.

“Now, given the manner we intended to develop this club, it is critical to trust the players and delegate some responsibility to them. They now have the correct culture and are prepared to handle some of the work on their own.

“When we consider how we want to create our game model, we want to give the players the ability to chose some aspects for themselves. They need to make judgments on the pitch, which should be simpler now that they’ve worked with us for seven months. I think we can establish new circumstances in which they may accept responsibility.”

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