Actions will always speak louder than words with excited Sunderland fans eager for Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to be a success

Sunderland's long-suffering fanbase is desperate for a fresh start, a clear plan, vision and a structure which will hopefully lead to success on the pitch, something that has been so badly missing for so many years.

Louis-Dreyfus, as RAWA outlined, will be given the 'warmest of welcomes' when the deal is hopefully ratified in mid-January once the EFL have completed their checks.

But fans will also want to see very clear 'evidence of an assured plan of long-term progression'.

And that is absolutely critical to the new majority shareholder's reign on Wearside.

If anyone connected to Wearside has learned one thing over the past two years, it is that actions will always speak louder than words.

Sunderland supporters have heard a lot of words from the likes of Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven. But only actions matter.

And for too long now fans have held very valid concerns about everything from the team, direction of the club, finances, the future of the Category One academy to the infrastructure at the club and the footballing structure within in.

Three seasons in League One and now onto manager number three paints its own picture.

The arrival of Louis-Dreyfus marks a real opportunity for change.

It must be grasped. The potential of the club remains massive despite finding itself in the third tier.

The RAWA statement read: "As with any newcomer to Wearside he will be given the warmest of welcomes and great faith will be put on him to rebuild our club.

"However, we all bear the scars of the past few years and therefore supporters will hope to see evidence of an assured plan of long-term progression."

The passion of the Sunderland fanbase is unrivaled, especially after the past couple of years when they still turned out in their thousands - before it went behind-closed-doors - every week in League One.

Whoever owned the club this season was always going to be limited when it came to improving the squad given the wage cap and squad number restrictions.

But moving forward the investment, structure and vision must be clearly outlined and acted upon.

Do that and the sky is the limit for Louis-Dreyfus and Sunderland. Actions speak louder than words.

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