Been mentioned with player recruitment how little leaks come out, well what about this one. Heavily linked with juve and not a sniff about us and boom it looks a done deal for us.
Speakman’s background was in running the academy at Brum so guess he would continue that, and do a few other things. Can imagine the gap in agent relationships+convincing players is huge between when Speakman started and where we are now. Good to have more firepower on board if they all gel cohesively. One of the things that has worked so well this season is the seemingly excellent relationship between owners/directors/coaching/players since RLB came in.
Anyway I’m gonna call it now. It’s not what I want to happen but I reckon Speakman is gone by this time next year. It’s very rare when somebody gets brought in “above” somebody who was already senior, that the person below survives. I really hope they can find a way to make it work and that Speakman is fully on board
yeh exactly this. Worth pointing out Speakman joined as a League One Sporting Director. much in the way our progression has been too quick for some of our players, it’s also going to have the same affect on staffing. the more I’ve thought about it and the shock has sunk in, the more it makes sense
Nicked from over the road - sounds perfect? Sunderland’s return to the Premier League signals ambition--and the near-appointment of Florent Ghisolfi as director of football is a clear statement of intent. Florent Ghisolfi: At 40, he’s proved himself as a club architect. He propelled Lens from Ligue 2 to Champions League qualification and, most recently, guided Roma to a top-five Serie A finish in 2024-25--just a point shy of the Champions League, outperforming expectations amid significant competition. Ghisolfi leaves Roma despite serious interest from Newcastle, Juventus, Fiorentina, and Saudi clubs, emphasizing his high value in the executive market. Sunderland securing him is a major coup as they re-enter the top flight. Strategic Impact: Ghisolfi specializes in building competitive squads and driving long-term growth. His partnership with Kristjaan Speakman--who stays on as sporting director--creates a robust leadership structure designed for both immediate Premier League survival and sustainable progress. This mirrors successful European models: dual executive expertise to drive recruitment, youth development, and tactical direction. Sunderland’s move is widely seen as bold and forward-thinking, positioning the club to replicate Ghisolfi’s transformation magic and compete effectively at the highest level. Expect heightened transfer activity and a disciplined focus on sustainable squad building--vital for newly promoted clubs aiming to establish themselves. Ghisolfi’s track record with underdog clubs and in high-stakes environments could prove the game-changer Sunderland needs for 2025-26--and beyond.
the article I read earlier said that was the owners, and the owners then decided to move him on as well, hence him leaving.
Too old for us now mate. Will admit I’m currently learning the words for the full champions league anthem
An interesting summer might be even more interesting Most of the value will be in the Italian and French markets and probably nobody better placed than this guy