Next step for Donald in Cats takeover bid
PROSPECTIVE OWNER TO MEET LEAGUE CHIEFS
PROSPECTIVE new Sunderland owner Stewart Donald is set to meet with the EFL today as he looks to push through his takeover of the Black Cats.
The BBC report that the former Eastleigh owner will meet with league officials as he ‘looks to advance his plans’ to buy the League One outfit.
The report claims that the meeting ‘won’t be definitive’ in his pursuit of EFL approval but it will give Donald the chance to outline details on how he plans to fund Sunderland and where he is at in terms of the sale of Eastleigh.
If his answers satisfy Football League officials then it is a huge step towards him gaining approval to take over the Black Cats.
Donald has previously said he is confident that the takeover will be approved by the EFL. Speaking earlier this month, he told BBC Radio Solent: “I’m confident that I can give Sunderland a competitive budget. It will take a bit of work.
“I can’t really comment but I have to say, I’m hopeful that I can get through the EFL process. I do white collar jobs, there’s nothing in my history that says I shouldn’t pass that.
“I’ve got the funds required to give that a go, hopefully they’ll see that as I go through the process.
“Who wouldn’t be excited about Sunderland? It’s a challenge, I can’t say anything about it other than to say that it is a big job.
“You’ve just got to live it and breathe it, and I am unbelievably excited about it.
“I’m more than a makeweight now as I’ve already said, which has cost me a little bit more than I expected but once you get into it you just think, ‘I’ve got to be part of this.’
“It is an unbelievable place for football. I hope it goes through because I just can’t wait.”
Meanwhile, Colorado Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson has played down rumours linking him with the vacant Sunderland manager’s job.
Hudson, 37, was rumoured to be on Donald’s shortlist as he prepares to take over the day-to-day running at the Stadium of Light, once his takeover from Ellis Short is ratified by the EFL.
First on the agenda for Donald is to appoint a new manager, with Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is still the 1/4 favourite.
However, Hudson, son of former Chelsea star Alan, was thought to feature on a potential shortlist after a career which saw him take New Zealand to the brink of the World Cup finals.
He joined Colorado Rapids in the MLS earlier this year, and when asked about links with Sunderland, he told Pro Soccer USA: “My life right now is the Colorado Rapids.
“I’m just dying to get this team to where we want to be. I want to be here for a long time. I want to build something special here. I communicate that regularly to Padraig Smith (Rapids’ general manager).
“I know where we are now, I know what needs to happen, I know the changes we need to make. I know what this team can be. I want to see it through.
“I want to be here a long time. So, I’m not thinking about anything else.”