By Wayne Veysey

3rd Dec, 2020 | 10:54am

Exclusive: Sunderland set to appoint Birmingham City man

Sunderland are set to appoint Birmingham City’s Kristjaan Speakman as the club’s new technical director, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

Speakman, 41, has been at Birmingham for 14 years and held the post of academy manager since 2011.

A Sunderland source has Football Insider he is advanced talks to head the club’s recruitment set-up.

He had been lined up for a similar role at Birmingham last year before a late U-turn from club chiefs.

That has opened the door for the north-east giants to swoop for Speakman and his appointment is set to be confirmed shortly.

He is now set to be heavily involved in first-team transfers at Sunderland at a time when the club are also searching for a new manager.

Birmingham claim Speakman has a “unique” skill-set as he has a Uefa pro licence as well as a business management degree and certificate in education.

The Black Cats decided to part ways with Phil Parkinson last Sunday following a run of five games without a win.

Football Insider revealed yesterday that former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson is a leading contender for the vacant post.

Johnson has been out of work since he was sacked at the end of beginning of July at a time when he was the long-serving manager in the Championship.

Sunderland are also in the midst of a takeover with Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and current director Juan Sartori having entered a period of exclusivity with current owner Steward Donald.

In other news, Kevin Phillips drops ‘massive’ Sunderland player claim after ‘Crushing’ update.