Chris Coleman opens up on the impact takeover uncertainty is having on Sunderland recruitment plans

Sunderland are on the brink of being relegated to League One and could go down as early as this weekend if they drop points at home to relegation rivals Burton Albion at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.

Successive relegations would be devastating for the Black Cats, with the uncertainty surrounding takeover talk ongoing in the background.

Owner Ellis Short is looking to offload the club and while no deal is thought to be close, it leaves Coleman, who has already stressed his desire to stay at the club, and his backroom team planning for all eventualities.

When asked if there has been any further communication regarding ownership issues, Coleman said: "Same answer. There has been no dialogue from the chairman. We are planning on different levels in terms of who we need to bring to the club.

"Just in case we are told it is A , so at least we are a little bit ahead of the game, or B so we have that in plan or C, we have that going on, which is not ideal. That is where we are.

"That is the hardest part, we are working on certain things were we know we might be wasting our time if it doesn't go that way.

LIVE Sunderland AFC blog - Coleman press conference, SAFC legend reveals role in failed German consortium takeover bid"But if there is a chance it goes that way and we haven't done any due diligence or planning, we would be behind schedule.

"We have to make sure, as best we can, to prepare down the line were we are playing from, the league and the budget, just in case.

"If we wait another month or three weeks, whatever, it could be longer than that, the club is sold or not sold, we are in this league or that league, then we are behind everyone else.

"It is a lot of work at the moment. We are shooting off in different directions in case, that is what we are working off. It is work that needs to be done."

Coleman has stressed his desire to remain on Wearside next season and rebuild the club, even if that meant managing in the third tier.

He added: "It will turn, sooner or later, big clubs have been in our position and it will turn.

"I would be jealous if somebody came in after me and it started moving forward, I would be. I have seen the difficult stuff, we are going through it now.

"I'd like to be here when it does turn.

"It is impossible to envisage how it will go, the uncertainty is substantial."

As reported at the weekend, North East business G O'Brien & Sons are the latest to be linked with a potential takeover of Sunderland AFC.

The group are reported to be interested in being part of a consortium to try and turnaround the club's ailing fortunes.

The group have a number of business interests, including demolition and waste management, and already have links with the club.

Short is open to offloading the club but the club's precarious league position and crippling debt make any deal complicated.

A number of parties across the globe have expressed an interest but as of yet, no resolution is imminent.

Sunderland's accounts for their final Premier League season are due out over the next month and are likely to underline the club's long-term financial difficulties as they try to adjust to life outside the Premier League.