Sunderland AFC has appointed Paul Reid as its new academy manager.

Paul joins the club with a strong background in the business of sport and leadership. His role will involve him taking a strategic view of the Academy as a whole, encompassing all areas from a football and operational perspective.

Maintaining its position amongst the country’s elite academies is of paramount importance to the club. Paul will lead on this, with support from the existing team of staff, including assistant academy manager Elliott Dickman, head of coaching Mark McCormick and academy operations manager Leann Cowperthwaite.

Speaking about his appointment, Paul said: “This opportunity is the accumulation of many years playing, studying and working within football and I am both excited and proud to be given the role of leading the Academy set up at such a fantastic club.

“A thriving academy is the bedrock of any successful football club. I am looking forward to working alongside the academy team, with the aim of building on the great foundations that are already in place and cementing our reputation as one of the best environments in the country for young footballers to develop and progress.”

A former football with over 500 career games under his belt, Reid began his career at his hometown club Carlisle United. After stints at Rangers and Preston, he joined Northampton Town, where he became the youngest captain in the football league. He then spent four years at Barnsley FC, captaining the side to victory in the League One play-off finals.

He represented England at under 18, 19 and 20 levels

Towards the end of his playing career, Paul worked with a football agency where he led on a number projects both domestically and internationally. Upon his retirement, he was appointed head of recruitment at Eastleigh FC, where he combined the role with his Masters Degree in Sporting Directorship.