'Do not insult my intelligence': Sunderland legend Kieron Brady's spectacular response to Stewart Donald's takeover claims

Sunderland legend Kieron Brady had a clear message for Stewart Donald after his controversial interview on BBC Radio Newcastle – ‘do not insult my intelligence’.
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In his first on-the-record interview for several months, Donald revealed that his asking price for Sunderland is £37.6million – but insisted that his involvement in the club was not about making a financial gain.

"The price is, as all the bidders have been told, what I paid for it,” said the Sunderland owner.

"I'm not interested in making a profit.”

Former Sunderland player Kieron Brady (left)Former Sunderland player Kieron Brady (left)
Former Sunderland player Kieron Brady (left)
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Brady disputes those claims though, and gave a spectacular response to Donald’s interview during an appearance on BBC Radio Newcastle’s Total Sport.

The Sunderland legend believes the club are currently in a ‘pretty dire and drastic state’,

"I think we are passed the point of no return,” he said.

“One of the overriding messages that came from what was quite an extensive monologue was that he was willing to acknowledge that he has been incompetent.

“I think that some may accept that, but of course the importance of getting promotion is something that he'll look back on with a significant regret.

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“For someone of his personal wealth, it was always going to be the case that the most important person or persons he could bring to the club were not a manager or players or coaches, it was someone that not only have the financial wherewithal to invest in the club or buy the club, and was prepared to put that to good use to make sure that the club was ascending on the field of the play.

People can try and confuse you about what the financial realities are, but where we are at this moment in time is that Sunderland have a first team squad of 15 players - 16 if you include Aiden McGeady - and ahead of the upcoming season I believe Sunderland are in a pretty dire and drastic place.

“Essentially, as a business this is a football club and it has so many of the ingredients needed to be a successful club that challenges on a consistent basis.

“I think from Stewart's perspective, he would probably even struggle to put forward the idea that they've stagnated.

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“I've encountered Stewart on a couple of occasions and he's always seemed perfectly affable. I've got absolutely no doubt whatsoever that he genuinely wanted Sunderland to prosper.

“But that still doesn't tell you whether he wanted it to prosper for his own personal ends. Let's not kid ourselves - nobody is going to leave Oxford or anyone else down south and all of a sudden be willing to throw away their personal wealth that they've accumulated to become some sort of footballing philanthropist for the betterment of the well-being of the people of Sunderland.

“Please, do not insult my intelligence that this is not in any way, shape or form, about money.”

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