Mike Dodds: Sunderland interim boss 'in no rush' for main job
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Mike Dodds has immersed himself in Sunderland as interim head coach and is enjoying the ride for now
Sunderland interim boss Mike Dodds is "in no rush" to step into management on a permanent basis, despite enjoying impressive wins in his first two games in charge after Tony Mowbray's exit.
Dodds, 37, was thrust into the role for last weekend's West Brom game, winning 2-1 at a packed Stadium of Light.
He then followed that with a 1-0 midweek win over Leeds, who had been on a seven-game unbeaten run.
"At some point I would want a go at it," Dodds told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Newcastle.
"Where I'm at is - seven days I was 'Ooh, can he do the job?'. We've got to slow down. With all due respect it's been two games.
"I think I've demonstrated a competence, an understanding of what it looks like at Championship level. And if I'm going to get tested I want it to be against two very good coaches and two very good teams [like West Brom and Leeds] because that's who I am as a person.
"At some point I would like to have an opportunity at it [management] but at the same time I've spoken a lot this week about processes and a lot around building blocks and doing things properly and I'm no different than that. So I'm in no rush."
Dodds, who joined the Black Cats in August 2021, had a short spell as caretaker boss following Lee Johnson's dismissal in January 2022 in between the appointment of Alex Neil.
The microscope on Sunderland from their time in League One to now in the Championship has been a tangible one, and Dodds already admitted to watching Bristol City games in preparation for Saturday's game even on his own day off this week.
His belief in being able to coach is balanced by how well he can handle the overwhelming nature of the top job at an elite level.
"I have a lot of self-assurance in terms of coaching, in terms of getting clarity around individuals and what I want the team to do, I think I'm quite strong in those areas.
"But you're never quite prepared for the level of intensity. I've probably had the most extreme version of it with in-form Leeds and in-form West Brom on television.
"That's one of the things I've reflected on, say in the future, if I ever were to be a head coach, how do I get that balance and that's something as time goes on and the dust settles."