Transfers and takeovers – your questions answered
already looks tight) and Phil Parkinson has already stated his desire to have a game at the Stadium of Light to help his players acclimatise.
More generally, the lack of squad depth is as much a concern to me as to everybody else.
It’s going to be a very demanding start to the season and so some progress is much needed.
A bit more quality is required but even more pressing than that, at least three additions are needed to ensurethereisjustenoughcover to prevent one injury having a major impact.
A departure would allow a littlebitmorebreathingspace in terms of new additions.
How long that will take is another matter.
A return to Charlton Athletic looks highly unlikely given the ongoing uncertainty there and, as we said right throughout January, the ball is firmly in Aiden’s court.
Heissettledintheareaand hasayeartorunonagoodcontract.Anyfinaldecisionwillultimately rest with him.
There’s no prospect of a first-team return though, and so the club will no doubt consideranyavenuetofindaresolution. on a major negative note.
Some clarity will surely have to be provided, either way.
On transfers, there will surely be progress soon.
Icanunderstandthepause andrecalibrationafterthesalary cap vote, but time is off the essence now.
The PFA and the EFL were in talks last week and any announcement will clearly be subject to whether some kind of compromise or agreement is reached.
If not, then that is what will seethewholethingdragonfor considerably longer.
Sunderland and all other clubs just have to operate on the understanding that the rules are in place and have to be followed.
For now, they have to go about their business taking the rules into account.
I don’t think they can really afford to wait and see what happenswiththePFAarbitration.
Yes, the club are working very hard on planning for when supporters are allowed to return to the stadium.
They’veheldmeetingswith the Branch Liaison Council to outlinehowthingsarelikelyto havetowork,intermsofsocial distancingwithintheStadium and all the measures that will be in place to minimise risk.
Clubs have not had any update on when supporters will be back, and so all they can plan for at the moment is that thiswillhappenfromOctober 1st, as per the last government announcement. I wouldn’t expect any more season ticket sale updates until there’s confirmation of that and Sunderland have been able to establish exactly how many fans are allowed in.