Sunderland are searching for a new club secretary with the Black Cats' head of football administration Brett Baker set to leave Wearside this summer.
The club has confirmed to Chroniclelive that Baker is leaving, and he is understood to have accepted a similar role at another club competing in a higher division.
At Sunderland, Baker was responsible for all football administration issues, a brief that included dealing with the FA and EFL over disciplinary matters, registration of players, and making travel plans and arrangements for Phil Parkinson's first-team squad.
As such, Baker will be replaced when he leaves and the club has already begun the recruitment process to avoid leaving a crucial role vacant at a time when football is coming to terms the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Baker is highly-regarded within the club and within football in general, and had worked at Birmingham City and the EFL before joining Sunderland as assistant club secretary in 2014.
He took over from Ryan Sachs as club secretary in 2016, and his role was rebranded as head of football administration when Stewart Donald bought the club in the summer of 2018.
