Stewart Donald says he wants back what he paid for Sunderland AFC

Stewart Donald says his asking price for Sunderland AFC is £37.6 million.

The Sunderland chairman justified that figure by claiming in an interview on BBC Radio Newcastle on Thursday night that this was the price he paid for the club.

Donald and his holding company, Madrox, used parachute payment money due to the club following relegation from the Premier League to help meet the fee set by Ellis Short.

It was revealed earlier this year that £20.5 million of this money, due to be repaid, had been written off in the club’s forthcoming accounts as an exceptional operating expense.

Donald, who confirmed that he is still looking to sell the club, again claimed that this would be repaid in full before the club is sold.

“The asking price is what I paid for it,” he said.

"It was originally £40m but there was a readjustment for (Ricky) Alvarez, so it's now £37.6million.

“There's been lots of talks about parachute payments - the Sunderland Echo have reported on it to show that money is going back in.

"Pre-sale, all that money will go back into the club.

“I have always said that those monies would be repaid and there's a bit more to go back in.

"But by the time a sale progresses - because we are a little way off - I'll make sure all those are back in because it's something I promised to do."

As part of a range of questions put to Madrox in the aftermath of the revelations surrounding the writing off of the parachute payment, the club’s ownership said the balance had been paid down to around £11.5 million at that stage.

was shown internal documents to reflect the money being repaid, some of which came into the club after the deal struck with the US investors FPP group last year.

has not see the club’s final accounts for the 2018/19 period, which are due to be released at the end of this month.

Donald was meeting supporters at the Stadium of Light to discuss fan concerns over the progress of the sale and the club more widely.

went to the Stadium of Light to request attendance or an interview, but those requests were declined.