FOR Sunderland, today marks the end of a turbulent campaign. And for Mike Dodds, it brings to a close what he admits has been an extremely difficult spell as interim head coach.

Having worked closely with Tony Mowbray, Dodds found the transition comfortable when he was tasked with leading the Black Cats after the December sacking of their former boss.

But that wasn't the case a couple of months later when he again had to step up and in after the exit of Michael Beale.

That's not, Dodds was keen to point out, meant as criticism of Beale, but with the former QPR and Rangers boss having tried - and failed - to come in and put his own stamp on things during a troubled stint, Dodds was left with having to pick up the pieces.

While the transition from coach to boss was "smooth" after Mowbray, it was, said Dodds, "clunky" and "difficult" after Beale's departure.

And so, ahead of a crucial summer, what Dodds believes himself, the players, everyone at Sunderland, needs is a spell of stability and continuity.

When the new head coach is appointed in the coming weeks, Dodds will be part of the backroom team. His exact role next year is not yet clear but he wants - hopes - he has a full season in a settled position.

"This year has been a complete rollercoaster for me," he said.

"I started the season as first team coach, although Tony was unbelievable with me in terms of allowing me to prepare the team. Then I went in as interim, then the club asked me to assist Mick. I didn't know Mick but we knew each other because we have similar types of backgrounds. Mick was more than comfortable with that.

"Then I came back in as interim head coach. I think from my perspective, from a selfish perspective, I'd just want 12 months of doing one thing. It's always difficult to get your teeth into something when you're doing something for a month then something for two months then six months. That's not just football, that's anything.

"From my point of view, my hope is whatever the club wants me to do I get a full season to focus on that."

Dodds is in the dark when it comes to Sunderland's search for the next head coach and "presumes" he'll get an update after today's game against Sheffield Wednesday.

"The next head coach, my personal opinion, has to have a player development background," he said.

"They have to because of the make-up of the squad. It would make no sense to go for...I'm not going to name names, but it would make no sense to go for a certain profile of manager with the squad we've got.

"Whoever that person is, I will support them as much or as little as they want me to. I'll give them a little bit more honesty than I'm giving here - and I mean that respectfully. I'll give them real insight in terms of Tony to me, me to Mick, Mick to me. And I'll give them insight into the group, who needs to be better at what. Then at that point you want to try and put your own stamp on it and I'll be completely supportive of that.

"I've been really fortunate, Alex (Neil), Tony and Mick, I've had good relationships with all three, I've been really fortunate.

"An organic relationship with the next person is something we all want but we won't know that until we get our teeth into pre-season."

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Sunderland have won just two of Dodds' 12 games in charge during his second interim stint, but, against a difficult backdrop, he's "proud" of the job he's done and hopes the Black Cats benefit from his behind the scenes work going forward.

He said: "To take over from Mick, I found that transition really difficult. But that will be a reflection point for me, because if I am going to be a head coach one day, the reality is I'll be going in somewhere where either it's going really well and someone has moved on or it's not going very well and I have to pick the bits up. The two experiences (following on from Mowbray and Beale), one was really smooth, one was really clunky.

"I'm really proud of what I've done. The black and white is I haven't won enough games but if you asked the players how it's been since I took over, I'd like to think 90% would speak really positively. I'm hoping we'll see the fruits of that next season."