Sunderland legends Michael Gray and Kevin Phillips have this firm takeover message for Stewart Donald

Donald publicly announced his intention to sell the club earlier this year but a deal is not expected to be imminent.

As reported by the Echo last week, there are groups currently monitoring the situation at the Stadium of Light but none are in advanced talks with the current regime.

And Phillips says that finding new owners has to be ‘one of the biggest priorities’ on Wearside this summer as the club look to climb out of the third tier at the third attempt.

Indeed, the club legend retains hope that a change in ownership could help propel the Black Cats back up the pyramid.

“One of the biggest priorities for me is the sale of the club,” he said, speaking to talkSPORT.

“Stewart Donald has made it clear he’s happy to sell the club if the price is right. Who knows what the price is now, but I’d like to see some new owners in.

“I’d love to see someone go in there, because the infrastructure is there, the support is there and the ground is there.

“They just need to get it right on the pitch and, if they do, then you hope it won’t be long until they're back up in the Premier League.”

“I feel sorry for the fans,” he continued.

“Of course, Sunderland are where they are because they haven’t performed on the pitch. I think decisions behind the scenes have been poorly made over the last three, four, five years so they are where they are.

“For the fans to spend another season in League One, with their passion, it’s very, very hard for them.

“They still had a chance of getting in the play-offs and it’s a difficult time up there – on the pitch and off the pitch.”

Gray, meanwhile, wants to see Donald sell to a ‘very ambitious’ new owner – and one who will look to do right by the football club.

“I’d love to see an owner who actually has the club at heart,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports.

“We've had billionaire owners who made too many mistakes, then we’ve taken another guy on now who’s found it difficult. He didn’t envisage the size or scale of the football club and has found it very hard to make the right decisions.

“He had to sort the books out and he’s tried to do that, but we know he wants to sell the club.

“If he’s going to do that, we need to make sure the new owners have the club at heart, are very ambitious and want to get the club back to where it belongs – and that’s not just the Championship, but the Premier League.”