Sunderland Academy manager Paul Reid says the Black Cats were disappointed to lose the coaching talent of Cliff Byrne, who has joined Rovers as assistant to Grant McCann.
Byrne was coach of Sunderland’s U23 side, and will now oversee the first-team at Rovers alongside McCann.
Speaking to Sunderland’s official website, Reid said: “We wholeheartedly congratulate Cliff on his new appointment.
“Whilst naturally we are sad to see him leave the Academy, we appreciate his desire to take his first steps into management and were keen to support him in the next stage of his career. In doing so, we agreed to allow him to leave straight away and he goes with our sincere good wishes for the future.”
Byrne joined up with Rovers on Friday, taking in the first-team training at Cantley Park before completing the paperwork for his move.
Rovers kick-off their Sky Bet League One campaign at Southend United on Saturday August 4, before their first home outing against Wycombe Wanderers the following Saturday.
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