A LOT can change in a week in football.

Seven days ago, Mike Dodds was being quizzed on the horror of his two games in charge in his first stint as Sunderland's head coach when the Black Cats fell to humiliating defeats to Cheltenham and Doncaster Rovers.

A week down the line and Dodds sat in the very same chair being pressed on his management ambitions having fielded questions, not for the first time, on whether he'd be interested in the Sunderland head coach job on a permanent basis now.

Such questions are inevitable after the last two results. The ghosts of that first stint have undoubtedly been laid to rest thanks to two hugely impressive victories over West Brom and Leeds.

Should Sunderland make it three wins on the bounce for Dodds against Bristol City tomorrow, there'll be fresh questions about whether he's forced his way into the reckoning for the job.

Unless something changes in the next 24 hours, his answer will likely be the same: he'll take each day as it comes and will continue to prepare the team to the best of his ability for the next game.

There was one admission from Dodds this week, however. He does want to become a manager. Whether that's next week, next month, next year or two or three years down the line isn't clear, but he definitely wants a top job on a permanent basis at some stage.

"I think at some point I would want a go at it," he admitted.

"But where I am at is, seven days ago it was 'can he do the job?' so I think that, with all due respect, we have to slow down a bit.

It's been two games and I think I have demonstrated a competence, an understanding of what it looks like at Championship level, and - as I've previously alluded to - if I am going to get tested, I would want to get tested against two really good coaches, two really good teams, live on Sky, because that's who I am as a person.

"At some point I would definitely want an opportunity at it but, at the same time, I have spoken a lot over the last week around processes and building blocks and doing things properly [as far as the team is concerned], and I am no different so I'm in no rush."

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Dodds has given Sunderland's bosses time. The hierarchy are understandably comfortable with the idea that the team is in safe hands while they continue to speak to potential candidates. Dodds is in contact with the decision makers and says he's "aware of what's going on and where he's at".

Whoever it is who gets the job will be fortunate to inherit a rock solid dressing room and a team in-form - as things stand - and contending in the Championship.

That, says Dodds modestly, is thanks to the excellent work of ex-boss Tony Mowbray.

"He's a proper man," said Dodds of Sunderland's former head coach.

"He's got real high standards, real integrity and real morals. Nobody associated with this football club would argue or disagree with what he did in 15 months here. He's laid really, really strong foundations for whoever the next head coach is to be really successful.

"When the dust settles Tony will I'm sure take a lot of pride in what he achieved here and I know that everyone here has nothing but the highest regard for Tony and thanks for everything he did."