Black Cats’ New Boss (Carlton Fairweather interview)

New Sunderland head coach Carlton Fairweather, a former Wimbledon midfielder who spent over a decade developing youth players in the club’s academy, prepares for the Lady Black Cats’ first WSL 1 season. Football is football regardless of whether it is women or men, he argues: the situations and therefore the coaching are the same, and what matters is building rapport. Following Mick Mulhern’s fifteen years is a tough call, but retained staff including assistant Melanie Reay provide continuity and his academy base removes any settling-in period. He is clear that this job is about winning rather than developing players, with survival the aim, and describes a thoughtful management style built on encouragement rather than reinforcing mistakes players already recognise.