Why Sunderland AFC have been allowed to delay publishing their 2018/19 accounts by three months

Sunderland AFC have delayed publishing their accounts for the 2018/19 season by three months – after the Government presented an extension to a deadline that would have seen them punished for any delay beyond the end of this month.
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The Black Cats’ club accounts – as well of those of Stewart Donald’s holding companies, Madrox Partners and SJD Leisure – were set to be submitted by April 30.

These balance sheets were set to cover the year ending 31 July 2019 – meaning they will offer a reflection of the entire 2018/19 campaign, which was Donald’s first on Wearside.

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But Companies House now shows that the club accounts will not be filed until July 30 after companies were given extra time to submit their documentation owing to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Under usual circumstances, companies who did not file their accounts by the deadline stated would be fined, but that ruling has been relaxed given the current situation in the country.

The accounts can, of course, be filed before July 30 – with this date acting as a final deadline for the paperwork to be submitted to Companies House.

Sunderland are not the only club to take advantage of this scheme, with a number of EFL sides – including Derby County – taking similar steps.

The Wearsiders’ last set of accounts were published on April 29, 2019 and covered the final season of Ellis Short’s tenure at the Stadium of Light.