Stewart Donald opens up on Sunderland investment talks but insists he's in it for the long term

The Black Cats Chairman has been open this season in admitting that he may need outside investment to achieve his long-term aim of getting the club back to the Premier League.

He has been in talks with a number of parties and will make a decision later this month on what option to pursue.

He is likely to relinquish some of his shares in the club, but has no intention of walking away entirely.

Donald currently owns 74% of the club, with Juan Sartori owning 20% and Charlie Methven 6%.

It is understood that he intends to keep a controlling or meaningful stake.

On the eve of Sunderland's play-off semi final against Portsmouth, Donald spoke to Sky Sports News to expand on reports that he was in talks to partially sell the club.

"I think we're a little bit ahead of ourselves here," he said.

"It's common knowledge, I've mentioned it before, we need a long-term plan that is going to involve getting some investment in the club.

"We've talked to loads and loads of people over the last couple of months, looked at options of trying to raise internal finance etc. Through the summer there's no doubt that they're we're going to take one of those options, but that will involve us staying at the club.

"We've worked hard in the last twelve months, we need stability. We want to get back up to the Championship on the field, that's important, we're trying to do that, but off the field the football club has been through a lot, our conversations have been about trying to get another investor or investors in, to help us long term to get back to the Premier League.

"We have to get to the Championship first, we know that, but the Premier League is the long term aim and that's what the conversations have been about.

"I would expect and I'm certain that Charlie, Juan and I will be at the club in some guise next season, probably taking the option for one of the people to invest with us."

Donald then doubled down on his comments that he will remain at the club in some capacity.

"100%, I will own some or the current amount that I currently do in Sunderland next season and hopefully for years to come," he said.

"But I might sacrifice some of that if it's in the interests of Sunderland to get some investment in."

Reports on Friday night suggested that Donald could sell a chunk of his shares for £27 million to a New-York based consortium.