US investors backing a bid for Black Cats

THE Sunderland fans behind a takeover of the club are being backed financially by investors from the US.

It has been reported three directors of the Fulwell73 company, famed for their Class Of ’92 documentary and for running James Corden’s Late Late Show in America, have held talks with owner Ellis Short over the sale of the club.

The Black Cats owner has been in negotiations with a number of interested parties, setting a deadline of the end of the month to sort any such deal in order for the football club to begin preparations for the new season, including finding a new manager.

The Press Association reported US investors are backing the Fulwell73 takeover, led by Sunderland fans Gabe and Ben Turner and their cousin Leo Pearlman.

Their consortium reportedly also includes Tony Adams and one-time Chelsea business affairs director Paul Smith.

Some reports had suggested Arsenal legend Adams would be appointed manager if a takeover is successful.

However, that remains unconfirmed at this stage.

The backing from the US makes sense. In their last financial report, which was released in 2016 showing their accounts for the 2015-16 tax year, the net worth of the Fulwell73 company was just over £500,000.

Their total assets, which includes things such as buildings they own, is said to be £1.9m.

At that stage they just had the office in London in which three of their four editing suites are named after Sunderland legends.

However, since those accounts were released, Fulwell73 completed huge projects such as the I Am Bolt film and they also signed a deal with CBS in America to run the Late Late Show.

They also now have more assets in the form of office space in LA and GQ magazine described them as the “real-life entourage” in March 2017, while also referring to them as a “Hollywood powerhouse.”

While their next accounts are not due to be released until 2018, you can be sure the company’s net worth has improved significantly.

With the US financial backing, it would appear that money would not be an issue for the Sunderland fans.