Sunderland fans respond to Stewart Donald's controversial statement as background takeover talks continue

Sunderland fans have issued a collective response to Stewart Donald’s controversial club statement – and have revealed their continued dialogue with the club’s owner.
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The joint statement, which was issued by A Love Supreme, the Red & White Army, Roker Report and the Wise Men Say Podcast, follows Donald’s public confirmation that the Black Cats are up for sale.

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And while Donald’s surprise statement earlier this week certainly split opinion among the fanbase, the quartet of fan organisations have welcomed his decision to put the club up for sale in a public manner.

Sunderland AFC owner Stewart DonaldSunderland AFC owner Stewart Donald
Sunderland AFC owner Stewart Donald

Indeed, they have also confirmed that they remain in regular dialogue with Donald throughout the sales process – and suggest that the majority shareholder has made it clear that he wants to find a suitable buyer ‘as soon as possible’.

The groups have also urged Donald to ensure the club is sold for a ‘fair price’ to ‘people with a long-term plan’.

The full statement reads: “In our joint statement on the 27th December 2019, we explained it was our desire for the Sunderland owner to sell his stake in the club, so the official confirmation that he intends to find a suitable buyer is welcome news.

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“Stewart Donald has continued to communicate with us during this process, and has made it clear that he wishes to sell as soon as possible, to the right buyer.

“We hope that a changing of the guard will occur as soon as reasonably possible and for a fair price, to people with a long-term plan, who will be able to get Sunderland AFC back where it belongs.

“In the meantime, like all Sunderland fans we will continue to support the team come what may. Throughout the club’s long and proud history, the fans have been the one constant.

“Through triumphs and many heartaches the one thing SAFC can always be proud of is the passionate, intense and loyal supporters, all with the same goal - to give their full backing to a team we can be proud of. Supporters have been and always will be the heartbeat of this club, and we’re in this for the long haul.

“Sunderland ‘til we die.”

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Donald stated last week that he expects the takeover to take ‘one or two months’ to complete, and suggested that he would re-open dialogue with groups who had previously shown an interest in acquiring the football club.

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