The state of play at Sunderland assessed after Stewart Donald's latest takeover update

OPINION: After talkSPORT’s lengthy interview with Sunderland owner Stewart Donald, Phil Smith reflects on the debate that has followed the release of Sunderland ‘Til I Die series two, and whether the mood has changed on Wearside...
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Stewart Donald yesterday addressed the takeover process for the first time since publicly confirming his intention to sell the club.

The current postponement of league fixtures, as well as the release of Sunderland ‘Til I Die series two, has led to a renewed discussion on his tenure so far and where the club stands in its bid to climb back through the divisions….

What’s been said…

Stewart Donald has admitted that he would like to stay at the clubStewart Donald has admitted that he would like to stay at the club
Stewart Donald has admitted that he would like to stay at the club
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Charlie Methven told the Radio Times earlier this month that he expects the club could well be under new ownership by the end of May.

He said that while the COVID-19 outbreak had slowed the process, interested parties recognised that this was a long-term investment and that as such, it should not prevent the transaction ultimately being completed.

Speaking to talkSPORT on Thursday, Stewart Donald admitted that the process had slowed, though he stressed that he remains minded and in talks to sell.

What he also stressed was the extent to which he remained a reluctant seller.

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He made clear that he would stay if he felt fans had changed their mind on his ownership, and that he feels the current crisis could actually make it easier for Sunderland to compete in the long run.

Many figures within football believe the current crisis could transform the landscape, leading to a significant controlling of costs and a downward pressure on wages in the long-term.

Donald also suggested that he believes the FPP group would step up their involvement with greater success on the pitch.

Though some Sunderland fans believe the recent series of Sunderland ‘Til I Die show the owner as one with good intentions, many do not believe the club is set up for success in its current guise, and that the series underlined why.

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Here, we assess whether much has changed since so many supporters made their feelings clear late last year….

Have concerns over the footballing side of the club been addressed since the December protest?

The discontent on Wearside owed much to a series of dismal performances on the pitch, bringing Sunderland to a historic low.

After the 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day, a game that Keith Hill’s side almost won, they sat 15th in the table.

The gap to second was nine points, the gap to top fifteen.

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Phil Parkinson had won just two of his first fourteen games in charge; his team dumped out of all three domestic cup competitions.

Late in that Bolton game, fans in the Stadium of Light began to chant for club legends of days gone by and at the final whistle, there were chants for a change of manager.

Supporters had been promised an ‘exciting few months’ in a club statement released shortly before Parkinson’s appointment.

Instead, many felt they had never felt lower about their club.

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The transition to a new style had led to some uninspired performances and as Sunderland headed to Doncaster Rovers, tensions were high.

What followed remains perhaps the most remarkable day of Sunderland’s season so far.

In front of 4,000 fans, the Black Cats took an early free kick, Lynden Gooch scored with an exceptional long-range strike and the team never looked back.

Aggressive in the press and aided significantly by the return of Gooch and Charlie Wyke, Parkinson’s 3-4-3 system began to pay dividends.

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With the installation of Denver Hume and Luke O’Nien in the wing-back roles, Sunderland were finally beginning to play with a tempo and overwhelm teams.

A long run of good form began that, coupled with the decline in form of Wycombe Wanderers and Ipswich Town, catapulted Sunderland back into promotion contention.

Some key Parkinson calls looked to be vindicated, such as the decision to leave Aiden McGeady out of the first-team picture.

At the moment of postponement, however, Sunderland’s progress had stalled.

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Chances to make major progress against Fleetwood Town and Coventry City were missed, before a woeful performance against Bristol Rovers left the Black Cats sitting outside the play-off positions.

Unquestionably, the months previous had seen a significant general improvement.

A team with an impressive work-rate on the ball and for the most part, a significant threat on it.

The likes of Gooch and Chris Maguire had seen a spike in their attacking output and if the current season resumes, the Black Cats remain firmly in contention.

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In that sense, they have undoubtedly steadied and made progress since that bleak midwinter.

Promotion, though, is at this stage out of their hands.

Sunderland are no closer to the Championship than at any stage since their relegation and any talk of a dominant, 100-point season has long faded.

The January window did see some established Championship talent brought in, admittedly on short-term deals.

Sunderland were unfortunate to see Bailey Wright suffer a serious injury, but otherwise, the additions have not made a major impact or established themselves in the starting XI.

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Donald has said that he understands if fans want a change in ownership due to a failure on the footballing operation.

Sunderland ‘Til I Die season two brought a renewed debate about the decision to cash in on Josh Maja and at this stage, the jury remains out on his key decisions.

Above all else, it is hard to argue that significant progress has been made after last season’s near miss.

And what about the direction of travel off it?

That winter frustration also stemmed to a large extent from uncertainty over the direction of the club off-the-pitch.

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The early stages of the new regime’s tenure had been marked by significant cost-cutting, and both Donald and Methven have candidly discussed the extent of that in recent weeks.

Towards the turn of the year, Methven had discussed embarking on a process of ‘building back up’ in light of the £9 million injection from the FPP group.

That deal, which had initially been floated as a sale, followed the collapsed talks with Mark Campbell’s consortium in the summer.

The consequences of that were significant in losing Jack Ross valuable time in preparing for the new campaign.

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Concerns over the club’s strategy were exacerbated by boardroom departures.

Managing Director Tony Davison left the club and was followed by Methven.

At the time, Juan Sartori was said to be stepping up his involvement in the club following a failed attempt to win his political party’s presidential nomination in Uruguay.

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However, he was subsequently elected as a senator and has not been seen on Wearside since the opening day of the season.

The club had consistently opted against appointing a Chief Executive to oversee operations on Wearside on a day-to-day basis.

The saga of last January, depicted in such detail on Sunderland ‘Til I Die, stood as a stark description of why Ross so consistently called for greater structure and strategy in the footballing operation throughout his tenure.

Donald did move to address the void at boardroom level shortly before the fan protest, appointing Tom Sloanes and David Jones as non-executive roles.

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Neither are involved on a day-to-day basis but Jones has a remit to consult on the footballing side of the club and has said that he will take an interest in the club’s recruitment operations.

Shortly before his arrival, Sunderland had begun to expand a scouting network that had been almost entirely stripped back in the aftermath of relegation to League One.

The club’s academy scouting and recruitment network is also in the process of being revamped.

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The academy has crucially held onto Category One status, though there have remained major difficulties in retaining talent before they can be signed up on professional terms.

Donald has suggested that the FPP group could become ‘fully engaged’ if Sunderland are successful, though at this stage they are still yet to comment publicly on their intentions.

Donald has also consistently said that they have continued to show no appetite for taking a majority stake in the club.

Where we stand…

Regardless of the current climate, Sunderland ‘Til I Die laid bare the need for extensive investment if the club is to be competitive in higher tiers.

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The ongoing silence of the FPP group, as well as the deal they eventually agreed last year, has to shape any discussion over their future involvement.

The prospect of a third season in League One looms large and as long as that remains the case, the calls for a change in approach are unlikely to alter significantly.