North-East business the latest to be linked with potential Sunderland AFC takeover

North East business G O'Brien & Sons are the latest to be linked with a potential takeover of Sunderland AFC.
Takeover talks continues on WearsideTakeover talks continues on Wearside
Takeover talks continues on Wearside

According to the Daily Star, the group are 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.

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Ellis 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.

The Black Cats boss Chris Coleman recently reiterated his view that the club needs intelligent investment to be competitive on the pitch again.

He said: "Whoever comes in, investment will have to be made but intelligent investment, not just throwing money at it and gambling.

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"It is looking at the age of the players you sign, trying to build a team, rather than players in and players out, it will have to be intelligent investment.

"If someone new comes in, whoever comes in, it doesn’t matter how much money they are worth, what matters is how much money they are going to invest in the team.

“Forget the Premier League, to get back to this level [the Championship] if that [relegation] is the case. That will be the interesting case.

"Are they prepared to put the club back in the Championship, if the worst happens?

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“If they are serious about going to the Premier League, that is another question.

“Wolves have spent a staggering amount but it has paid off as they will be going up [to the Premier League].”

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.

Just over £1 million was spent on transfer fees last summer, despite the sale of Jordan Pickford to Everton for £30 million.