Donald bids a fond farewell to Eastleigh

NEW Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has put National League side Eastleigh FC up for sale and said a heartfelt goodbye to the Spitfires’ fans.

Sunderland announced yesterday that an international consortium of football investors fronted by Donald have agreed to buy Sunderland from Ellis Short, subject to EFL approval.

But Donald is currently owner and chairman of Eastleigh, and EFL rules mean that an individual cannot hold interests in two clubs.

And in a statement published on Eastleigh’s official website, Donald confirmed he is relinquishing control of the club.

“It is with great sadness and regret that I have to inform the Eastleigh fans that I have put our football club up for sale,” Donald’s statement read.

“I have spent over six years at the club and from the very first moment I arrived, I have been welcomed and treated with great respect and kindness and I am truly grateful for the support everyone has given regardless of how well the team have performed at any given time.

“It is an emotional decision for me and one that I did not expect to have to make.

“However, with my potential involvement in Sunderland, it is a condition that I must relinquish control of Eastleigh.

“If the rules were different I would have loved to remain with the club for many years to come.

“Eastleigh has become, and will always be, extremely close to my heart. I have always tried to look after the club to the best of my ability and this will never be more important than now when considering perspective new owner/s.

“The football club is in the strongest financial position it has ever been in, with a muchimproved stadium and increased revenues enabling the club the ability to seriously compete in the top tier of non-league football and whilst I have been unable to deliver League football, I hope the fans will reflect on my chairmanship as a positive one.

“My focus now must move to finding a suitable owner who will understand the ethos of the club.”

He went on: “I would like to assure the fans that I will not charge for the sale of the club and do my very best to ensure that the club is passed to an individual or group that understands these principles and is committed to continuing them.

“Thank you all again for making my ownership such an enjoyable experience.”