KLD and Sartori increase their stake in Sunderland - reducing Donald’s

Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co-owner Juan Sartori have both increased their shareholdings in the club.

A club statement has confirmed that Louis-Dreyfus has upped his stake to 58% (up from 51%), and Sartori to 33% (from 30%).

It means former chairman Stewart Donald has reduced his interest from 19% to just 9%.

Louis-Dreyfus bought a majority shareholding in Sunderland in 2021, yet it later emerged he had purchased just 41%, with Donald and Charlie Methven still owning 39% between them.

A deal was then agreed in the summer, following the Black Cats’ promotion from League One, that Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori would both increase their shares.

Sartori has owned shares in Sunderland since 2018.

Meanwhile, Tony Mowbray has told his players to ignore the pressure of the league table as they look to finish their first campaign back in the Championship on a high.

"We have to enjoy the football, try and grow as a team," Mowbray said.

"We keep getting thrown different challenges with players we've had unavailable.

"I think the team have for the vast majority of the season competed really well and that's what we have to do before the last nine (games).

"We have to see how many points we can get and see where that takes us.

"You have to win games to get into the play-offs and we haven't done that regularly of late, so the gap becomes bigger and that becomes more difficult.

"Three or four weeks ago it was something that the fans could dream about but it is probably becoming more difficult now.

"From our perspective, that's not dragging us down, we just have to concentrate on the next fixture and play the game.

"I've talked to the team about having nine big events - let's take them on one by one and not worry about the league table.

"I think it's a very obvious thing to do on the outside to look at the table but for us, as footballers, they have to compete and test themselves against players in this league, and keep improving and getting better. Hopefully in time we can turn more draws into wins, more defeats into draws, and get this club back to the Premier League over the next few years."