Stewart Donald urged to sanction 'swift and positive' takeover as hopes of a Sunderland sale raised

Club officials say that Donald remains in a period of exclusivity with a preferred bidder, who have shown the majority shareholder proof of funds.

And hopes of a deal were raised on Wednesday evening after a planned meeting with supporters was cancelled – with Jim Rodwell citing the ‘advancement and sensitivity’ of the sale process as the reasoning behind the decision.

In response to that decision, prominent fan group The Red and White Army have called for the process to be concluded quickly given that the ‘patience of a lot of fans is wearing thin.’

Indeed, the group say that only a ‘swift and positive resolution’ will stop tensions on Wearside raising further.

In the statement, which was released shortly after it was confirmed the meeting would not go ahead as planned, the group said: “The Red and White Army are disappointed that the Club have cancelled Thursday’s Structured Dialogue Meeting. We have a range of questions and topics to cover following consultation with our members and the wider supporter base. We know that fellow supporter groups have also requested a range of discussion points.

"We note that the reason for the cancellation is due to SAFC being in advanced talks about a potential takeover with an unnamed party. We understand that this would make some of the proposed agenda items difficult to discuss, hence the postponement.

"The apparent progress of a sale will be welcome news to the majority of Sunderland supporters. Earlier this year, RAWA surveyed fans on their attitudes to the current ownership, with 90% of supporters stating they were unhappy and they should sell to a reputable buyer.

"We are acutely aware that there will be a large number of fans who may greet this latest news with a dose of cynicism, citing that there has been a potential sale in one form or another, since Spring of 2019. RAWA are not privy to any further information regarding a potential sale and so we will watch with great interest and eagerness for imminent news of a positive conclusion.

"Despite a reasonable start to the season in terms of results in League One, many fans continue to be disillusioned and frustrated at the direction of SAFC, whilst taking into account the huge disruption in the game caused by COVID-19. It is widely accepted that there has been a breakdown of trust between the ownership and the fan base for a variety of reasons, and we sincerely hope matters are about to finally reach a positive conclusion.

"In July, the club board asked for ‘breathing space’ – that was four months ago and the patience of a lot of fans is wearing thin. Many of our members are already pushing for supporters to act and once again display their feelings about how the club is being run. Anything other than a swift and positive resolution in a change of ownership will only serve to raise the temperature further.”

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