Weary Sunderland fans have been here so many times before
Sunderland fans have been here before, of course.
It has been a weary twoyears, with takeover, sale and investment talk dominating for much of that time.
It feels as though ever since Stewart Donald & Co arrived it didn't take long for takeover and/or investment talk to surface.
Mark Campbell, FPP Sunderland, Campbell again plus a host of other names including Sammy Yu and William Storey. Plus the consortiums, both national and local to the North East and from far flung places around the world.
Sunderland fans are craving change, change from the Donald era, which has unraveled in spectacular fashion in recent months.
Financial concerns, major ongoing issues with the academy around the sale of young players and poor results on the pitch, fears over the future direction of the cub, the season ticket and refund fiasco.
It has been a draining few months. It has been a draining few years. Sunderland fans need some fresh hope and it came in the form of news on Saturday evening that Donald has entered a period of exclusivity with an unnamed potential buyer.
It doesn't mean a deal is done, far from it. But it is a significant step forward amid a background of takeover talks accelerating in recent weeks.
It follows, of course, a remarkable couple of weeks on the back of the fan meeting and the polls - including our own Echo survey - which clearly showed fans wanted Donald & Co to go.
Supporters have been here before in terms of possible new owners, Campbell was involved in extensive talks last summer and was a regular at the Academy of Light, we all know then how the FPP Sunderland talks went, high hopes of a takeover but in the end it became an investment. Their intentions still not fully known.
Yes, Sunderland fans have been here before. Many times.
The identity of the latest group/individual is not yet known. Or their plans. Or funding.
Many will hope for a swift conclusion but ultimately the most important thing is that any new owner is the right owner. With the funds and ideas and vision to take the club forward, to invest in the team and the infrastructure.
And to hopefully one day soon lead the club back to the Championship and beyond.
Fans, once again, waiting with baited breath.