Ryan Wombwell believes Kyril Louis-Dreyfus' takeover at the club acted as the catalyst for the Under-23's impressive run to the Premier League 2 play-off final.
Sunderland' s Under-23's side were narrowly beaten on penalties by Crystal Palace but the achievement of reaching the final itself should not be overlooked.
The Academy has been scrutinised in recent seasons with the club unable to hold onto their best young talent, but last season's run to the final was a positive sign of things to come.
Wombwell, who's now plying his trade in the National League North with Gateshead FC, was part of the side that reached the final at Selhurst Park and has given an insight into what Louis-Dreyfus' takeover meant for the whole club.
The Black Cats owner wasted no time in introducing new faces behind the scenes at both the Academy and Stadium of Light as he started his rebuild in February last season.
Stuart English was recruited to the Academy set-up and Wombwell believes the new arrivals forced everyone to raise their standards.
"You could notice a change straight away," he said. "There were different members of staff coming in and they made a difference.
"The takeover made everyone raise their standards. Seeing new faces come in meant you had to impress new people.
"I think it's taken the club to the next level and you can see this season that they've already started really well - the First Team - there's players coming through and they've brought in players from all over.
"I think the takeover has made a massive difference and you can see it now.
"It was brilliant for us to get to the play-off final last year. I think compared to previous seasons, it was totally different.
"The atmosphere around the group, after a couple of poor years as an academy, we turned it round last year with some good additions and it was a totally different feel around the place when we were playing and training.
"Getting to the final, at Selhurst Park in front of however many thousand, was just the added bonus that we deserved."
It wasn't the fairy-tale ending for the club, nor was it for Wombwell who was told his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season.
However, the 18-year-old did not rest on his laurels and has praised the club for their aftercare - an area where so many fall short.
Wombwell said: "I had the conversation with the club that they didn't want to renew my contract and I just kept my head down. They were great with me to be honest. They help you and call you all the time.
"I still speak to some of the staff now who check in on me and stuff like that. The club do loads for you even once I'd been told that I wasn't getting offered a new deal.
"It gives you that bit of comfort.
"I thought the staff were excellent. They were great with everyone and it showed at the end of the season. However many found out that they weren't going to be offered a new contract and they still dug in and got to the play-off final. Losing on penalties, we were unlucky not to go up.
"To have a season like that and for six of us to no longer be there, it just goes to show that the effort was there and we kept going until the end."
It was through Sunderland that the defender was able to go on trial with Gateshead FC and penned a two year deal with the club after a successful trial period.
Wombwell said: "Michael Proctor pulled me to one side and said that Ian Watson [Gateshead's assistant manager] wanted me to come in for a couple of weeks training.
"From there I got the shout that they wanted me to sign and I was buzzing.
"It was what I wanted and speaking to Mike Williamson[Gateshead FC manager], it was exactly what I needed at the time, going to another Under-23's would've just been the same as what I did last year.
"It's a new challenge and it's been good for me. I've been cherishing it.
"It's a different atmosphere here. Experience is needed here on the pitch and I know what the plan is having spoken to the manager. I've got to be patient and I know I'll get my chance to prove myself."
For Wombwell it's the first taste of senior football in a short career to date. However, he believes that youngsters should try and seek loan moves to help improve their game.
"I've been really enjoying it," he said.
"It's totally different playing men's football, even just coming on for ten minutes there, you can feel the difference from 23's to the First Team environment.
"Everyday the standards and demands are completely different. It is something that more lads should do and I think this season they are doing it.
"Josh Hawkes and Jack Diamond have went on loan and they probably need to do that just to get game time and they'll no doubt come back a better player.
"Every day in training you can feel the standards and on a matchday the physicality and we've got to get three points every week. You've got to win if we want to go up and take the club to the next level.
"We've got to get three points on a Saturday and there's fans here and a bit of added pressure where as with 23's you go on a Monday afternoon and there's nobody there.
"You're just between yourselves and there's no greater cause really."
