No time to waste in rebuilding job

CONSORTIUM NEEDS TO ACT

SUNDERLAND is in the throes of a takeover, with confirmation on Sunday Ellis Short had found a buyer for the Black Cats.

Eastleigh FC owner Stewart Donald is fronting a consortium which has agreed a deal with Short, subject to approval from the EFL.

Sunderland fans have been calling on Short to sell-up for some time and there was relief on Wearside at the news the American has now gone.

In seeking to revive a club whichhas suffered the indignity of back-toback relegations to leave them in the third tier, the new owners have taken on a huge task.

Here, we look at some of the key issues Donald and his backers must address when the deal is rubberstamped.

MANAGERIAL APPOINTMENT HOLDS THE KEY

This will be the first task for Donald and his fellow investors and it will be an appointment which will set the tone for their ownership.

Their choice will be the first indicator of their vision and ambition for the club and of the kind of manager they believe the fans will accept.

Last summer, Simon Grayson was seen as an underwhelming choice by Sunderland fans despite the fact he had a good record at Championship and League One levels.

His successor Chris Coleman’s record of five wins in 28 league games was poor but he remained a popular figure with most – although by no means all – Sunderland fans, many of whom felt he deserved a chance to rebuild the squad this summer with a proper budget.

The new consortium cannot afford to get off on the wrong foot by bringing in the wrong man.

FULL DISCLOSURE – INCLUDING THE FUNDING

Yesterday’s sale announcement said the ownership of the club would pass into the hands of an international consortium of football investors fronted by Donald.

In the interests of transparency and accountability, it is important Donald’s partners or backers are identified so fans know exactly who owns their club.

The new consortium will also have to give an indication of how much money they are willing to invest.

Short has written off the debt but the club is still making significant losses and the new owners will either have to continue funding those – as Short did – or cut costs dramatically, with all that entails.

ACT QUICKLY

The takeover announcement said the deal is agreed subject to approval from the EFL.

There is no set timescale on that, but Sunderland do not have a moment to lose as they prepare for next season.

They need to complete the takeover and appoint a manager to oversee the huge rebuilding job which needs to be undertaken during the close season.

Coleman had already drawn up lists of targets – one list if there was money to spend, one if there was none – but the new manager will have his own ideas.

Sunderland need to start their recruitment as quickly as possible if they are to get the players they want and not merely the players they can get.

INVEST IN THE SQUAD

With seven loan players due to return to their parent clubs and another four players out of contract, Sunderland’s squad needs a complete revamp this summer.

For too long the club has been reliant on loan players and stickingplaster solutions which have left successive managers with a cobbled together, patched-up squad of players.

At League One level, the sums involved need not be huge but the new manager will need backing in the transfer market if he is to construct a squad capable of winning promotion at the first attempt.

RECONNECT WITH THE FANS

The new owners must address the alarming disconnect which has built up between Sunderland fans and their club in recent years.

This has developed during Short’s reign due to a number of factors, not least continued failure on the pitch, poor appointments, dreadful signings and an absolute lack of investment in the playing squad.