This could be Cats' most bruising week yet of a turbulent summer
fanbase, but also while waiting to see how the situation works out in League One and when football will actually return.
There has been nothing to cheer and little positivity around the club for months, with fans also facing up to a third season in the third tier.
All this amid the backdrop of there being no football. The League One campaign suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic with a vote finally set to take place today.
All signs point to the season being curtailed, with a points-per-game formula used to settle the table and promotion and relegation issues.
As has been well documented, the only chance
Sunderland have of winning promotion is if the season starts again.
On PPG they remain outside the play-offs, which are set to be limited to the traditional four teams despite pleas for an extended playoffs.
This could be the most bruising week of the lot if the season is ended, but there will at least be some clarity and clubs can put their plans for this summer and next season into action.
There are contracts to be decided, players to be released, new signings targeted - after two years at this level, major change is needed this summer. A significant number of the fanbase also hope there will be a takeover too, at some point.
It has been almost 12-weeks without football and there was never a guarantee that this season would restart again so clubs - including Sunderland - don't have any excuses for not being prepared for what comes next.
Plan for the worst and hope for the best. And being as prepared as possible for next season's promotion push, whenever that may start.