COLEMAN OUT AS SHORT SELLS SUNDERLAND
ELLIS Short was yesterday forced to sack Sunderland boss Chris Coleman and clear the club’s debts of around £140million before selling up.
on a dramatic day at the Stadium of Light, news of Coleman’s departure came just 15 minutes before confirmation of a takeover led by Stewart Donald, the chairman of National League club Eastleigh. however, sources indicated to
Sportsmail that the deal would not have gone through had the manager and the debt remained, leaving Short with no option but to pay up Coleman’s two-year contract and forgo £70m owed to him by the club, as well as settling bank loans last recorded at £70m.
the American billionaire was so desperate to end his nine-year tenure that he agreed to take the financial hit, finally ridding himself of the burden of funding losses of around £500,000 a week.
Donald, 43, and his group of foreign investors will now appoint their own manager with former Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy, ex oxford United coach Michael Appleton and Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder among those under consideration.
But Coleman’s exit was mourned by the players, despite their relegation to League one. the squad’s WhatsApp group reacted with shock and sadness to his sacking as they had hoped he would remain in charge next season.
the 47-year-old was informed yesterday morning that his five months on Wearside were over. As recently as thursday he spoke of his desire to rebuild the club, preferably under new owners. he was able to win only five of 28 league matches but had won over both players and supporters with his honesty and enthusiasm.
Coleman stood down as manager of Wales in November to take over at Sunderland but failed to save the club from a second successive relegation. the future of chief executive Martin Bain is also in doubt and it could well be that his last act was to facilitate the takeover, which remains subject to EFL approval.
Short said: ‘It is no secret that I have been trying to sell Sunderland. But I have waited until the right group came along that have experience, finances and a plan to take this great club back to where it deserves to be.
‘overall, my chairmanship has not gone the way I would have wished. the many high points of a decade in the Premier League have been overshadowed by the low points of the last two terrible seasons.
‘I was therefore determined that I leave Sunderland in the best possible hands and in the best possible state to turn the corner.
‘I have paid off all debts owed by the club to leave it financially strong and debt-free for the first time since years before I owned it.’
Donald, who will step down as chairman of Eastleigh, said: ‘All of us involved in this bid believe that Sunderland represents an extraordinary opportunity.
‘For a club with one of the best fan bases, stadiums and academies in the UK to find itself in League one is unacceptable.’