Fan letters: “I’m excited to be back with my fellow supporters again; bring on the new season.”

Dear Roker Report,

I’m slightly worried that no backroom staff have arrived with the new manager.

If they leave Mike Dodds in the backroom, they’ll create two camps and it’ll be a disaster, as Régis Le Bris says ‘Do this’ and Dodds says ‘I wouldn’t be doing that’.

I hope I’m wrong, as with Dodds’ ideas, we would’ve been relegated.

Roger Stokell

Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Roger. Thank you for your letter.

Personally, I believe that Mike Dodds should be given a new role in another department at the football club, and I think he could have a key role to play at academy level, working alongside Graeme Murty and helping our young prospects to prepare themselves for possible opportunities at first team level.

After what happened last season, I just feel that a new start is required and that Régis Le Bris needs to be given whatever he needs in order to deliver results, and that ranges from his coaching staff to the players he’d like to bring in.

I suspect we’ll see some movement in this area soon, and it’ll be interesting to see how the coaching team looks by the time we head off to Spain for our pre-season training camp.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I love listening to your podcasts and reading all of your stuff, and I just wanted to ask if you agreed with me on this?

My first impressions of Régis Le Bris are really good, and I think it’s been somewhat overlooked that Chris Rigg allegedly said that he’d wait to consider signing a professional contract depending on who the new man was.

The fact that he did pretty much as soon as Le Bris started is a testament to him as a person, as it shows he’s immediately engaging and that he can clearly win over players.

Furthermore, I believe it probably highlights that he has an intention to use Rigg in a few games this season, which in a team full of talented midfielders, I would’ve thought was a hard sell.

For a team approaching a season where they want promotion, and if Pierre Ekwah, Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham or any new additions to that team in midfield come in and are playing well, it’ll be very difficult for Rigg to get in.

So, I think it’s a massively telling sign that Le Bris must be a really engaging character and able to sell himself to young developing players, and I wanted to know if you agreed?

P.S. The new kit is awesome!

Joseph Phillips

Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Joseph. Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind words about our podcasts and published content.

Having watched Régis Le Bris’ first press conference, I felt he came across well. He struck me as calm, measured, balanced and thoughtful, and he seems to be happy to go about his business in a low-key manner, which is no bad thing in my opinion.

Regarding Rigg’s decision to put pen to paper on a professional contract, I think it’s hugely encouraging that he’s committed his immediate future to Sunderland.

He’s an immensely talented footballer and whilst I agree that we have some exciting options in midfield (notwithstanding any arrivals during this summer’s window), I’m convinced that Rigg has the ability and the maturity to play a key role for us this coming season.

He’ll need to be managed smartly so that we don’t burn him out, but I’m 100% certain that he’ll feature heavily in at least 25-30 of our games, and that he’ll make a big impression while doing so.

I fully agree with you regarding our new kit, as well. It’s one of the best we’ve had in years!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

The football season is nearly upon us and I must say that for the first time in what seems like an age, the optimism around our football club has reached new heights, and it’s such a nice feeling to have rather than the absolutely catastrophic times we’ve had in recent years.

Exciting things are happening both on and off the pitch, from the appointment of Régis Le Bris and tying down our future potential stars to a brand new club shop and quite possibly the most successful kit launch we’ve ever had.

It truly feels like we’re taking a step in the right direction and doing things that are going to be beneficial in the long run, rather than just using sticking plasters (which I think we’d become quite accustomed to).