Sunderland’s problems are continuing to mount with highly-rated assistant academy boss Danny Philpott having been placed on gardening leave, Sportsmail can reveal.
Philpott joined from Everton in 2014 on the understanding he would eventually replace academy chief Ged McNamee.
However, nearly two years on and Philpott remains assistant to McNamee. We understand he had become frustrated with this situation.
Philpott was responsible for overseeing youth recruitment and was pushing for several of the club’s promising academy graduates to be sent on loan this season.