Gray looking to facilitate buyout
MICKY Gray says he is looking to find new investors to take over Sunderland and end the current chaos at the Stadium of Light.
The Wearsiders are on the market, with owner Stewart Donald last week reiterating that he is looking to sell the club.
During an interview, former Eastleigh supremo Donald said he has spoken to Black Cats legend Gray as he looks to find a buyer. There was also a social media frenzy on Thursday when Gray tweeted he was trying to get the club “back on track”.
Now, the former Sunderland academy graduate has clarified what he meant on Twitter and said he is looking to facilitate a takeover.
Gray (pictured) told talkSport: “Social media has gone crazy over the last three or four days because I’m just trying my best to look after my football club.
“I’m working very, very hard to try to get some investors. I’ve had conversations with people who are willing to take the club on for the right reasons.
I’ve spoken to the club, although not Stewart Donald initially. I spoke to his right-hand man Neil Fox [a Sunderland director].
“I’ve been given the figures but they’re astronomical at the minute, I’ve got to admit. You have to pay around £35m for the club but that does get you everything – the stadium, the training ground, the whole lot.
“But what supporters have to realise is, and I am hoping this is going to happen, you’re going to need another £35m on top of that because you’ve got salaries to pay for, you’ve got to bring new players into the club, you’ve got the overall running costs of the club, there’s uncertainty over when supporters will be coming back to games...
“So this is going to be a long process.
“The price is incredible, it really is. There’s no doubting it’s a sad state of affairs where the club finds itself in League One. “I’m not involved in any
figures whatsoever. I’m just telling the potential investors about the city – what it’s all about, how passionate they are, how much football means to them etc. It’s my home club, and I just want the right people to go into that football club to try to get us to that next level.”
The former leftback-turnedpundit added: “I just hope that we get the right people. Whether that’s the people who I’m speaking to, or somebody else, I’ve got my fingers crossed because fans deserve a heck of a lot better than what they’ve had for the last six or seven years.”
Donald revealed on Thursday that his asking price is £37.6m, which the owner claims is what he paid but which is also a figure many experts believe vastly overestimates the League One club’s value.
On Saturday he stepped down as the club’s chairman but he will remain in overall charge of the club until a suitable buyer can be found.
It is believed that there are numerous interested parties, but there has been no formal approach which has led to a review of the club’s books.
I’ve had conversations with people who are willing to take the club on for the right reasons