MIKE Dodds has bolstered his Sunderland coaching team with the addition of Anthony Hayes as new first team coach.

The 37-year-old Irishman joins Michael Proctor and Alessandro Barcherini in supporting Dodds, while Graeme Murty will also play a central role while continuing to lead the Under-21s.

Hayes joins Sunderland having left Charlton Athletic back in October after seven years with the Addicks, where he worked his way up the academy ranks before joining the first team coaching set-up. He had a stint as caretaker boss of Charlton after the sacking of Ben Garner.

He will initially link up with Sunderland until the end of this season, when the club's hierarchy will make a decision on a permanent head coach.

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“I’ve known Anthony for some time and we are delighted to welcome him to our coaching team," said interim boss Dodds.

"This is a position we wanted to add and following the changes made earlier this week, our requirements shifted a little as did the timeframe.

"Anthony immediately made himself available and like Graeme Murty, he will bring added value to our coaching and match preparations.

"He’s also been an interim head coach before, which will not only support me but also our players as we adapt and move forward together in the coming weeks and months.”

Hayes started out as a player in his homeland before being forced to retire at the age of just 23 because of a serious knee injury. He turned to coaching and got a job with Brentford before switching to Charlton.

Dodds' third stint as caretaker boss starts with a home game against Swansea City this weekend, with the Black Cats looking to bounce back after two damaging defeats on the road.