SUNDERLAND interim head coach Mike Dodds believes Chris Rigg would be 'mad' to leave the Black Cats this summer, with the youngster able to sign his first professional contract in June.

The 16-year-old has not yet penned professional forms with the club as he's can't do so until he's celebrated his 17th birthday - which is on June 18 - but the youngster is understood to have agreed the layout of a deal when signing his scholarship forms last summer.

The rising star has caught the eye of a number of top-flight clubs after impressing for the Black Cats in recent years, establishing himself as a starter under Dodds in the latter part of this season, leaving the midfielder with a decision to make.

Rigg will be free to discuss professional contracts with interested parties but Sunderland remain hopeful the exposure he's had in the first team this season will stand them in good stead.

"I'm not in any of those type of discussions so I don't know exactly what the situation is but I love to Riggy to bits and he knows my thoughts - if he doesn't sign, I think he's mad - that's my personal opinion," said Dodds.

"If you're a young footballer then Sunderland is just a huge opportunity right now in the trust we put in young players and the chances we give them, the work behind the scenes to develop the young players we've got, and it's not just Riggy look at Dan Neil, Trai Hume, Dan Ballard.

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"His performances are slowly maturing and if he feels right now that there's somewhere else better for him, I'd like to see where that is to be honest. I just think this is a wonderful club to be a young player at the moment.”

The Black Cats will go through another transitional period this summer, appointing a new head coach the first job of the hierarchy. Dodds believes whoever comes through the door must have an understanding of player development given the age of the squad, but has no doubts they'll rate Rigg highly.

“Whoever they recruit as the next head coach, and you know as much as I do in terms of that appointment - they are going to have to have an understanding of player development and working with young players,” Dodds said.

“It's a young group and so you're just not going to bring someone in who is the polar opposite of that. And so if someone does have that background of player development, which they will do, then they are going to instantly see what a wonderful talent Chris Rigg is and what potential he has got.

"So, that isn't even something that's crossed my mind because whoever this next person will be will have that background.”