Newcastle fans react to report that coach Atkinson will join them from Sunderland

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Mark Atkinson is set to depart his role as Sunderland’s Head of Academy Coaching to join bitter rivals Newcastle, according to the Sunderland Echo. 

They report that after just one in his current role at the Stadium of Light, Atkinson is set to leave and cross the divide – becoming Assistant Head of Academy Coaching, working under the newly-promoted Ben Dawson.

Newcastle are apparently having a reshuffle at youth level and Atkinson will focus on coaching the younger age groups.

Atkinson has apparently been at Sunderland for a number of years, working his way up the ranks, but will now take up a role with the Black Cats’ most fierce rivals.

Unsurprisingly, the story has attracted more attention than the average academy appointment would expect, given the nature of the switch.

Newcastle fans were keen to rub the Sunderland fans’ noses in it, claiming another small victory off the field after a campaign where Sunderland failed to clamber out of the third tier.

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