The seven key criteria a new owner must deliver to Cats
Meanwhile, Charlie Methven, Jack Ross and Tony Coton were at the Academy of Light.
This kind of set-up cannot be conducive to a successful club in the long-term. The appointment of Jim Rodwell as chief executive has given Sunderland some form of leadership based on Wearside, and the new ownership need to ensure this continues.
Whoever buys the club needs to be prepared to relocate to the North East. Only then can they ensure that things are running smoothly. recruitment vision.
A key priority for the new ownership should be establishing a modern, forwardthinkingplanwhenitcomesto signing players.
and this is certainly the direction in which Sunderland should move.
– providing they aren’t replaced before a takeover is finalised – gives Sunderland an opportunitytobuildanewrecruitment teamandimplementanewapproach.
Some key questions will also need to be answered by the new ownership when it comes to recruitment.
What mould of player are Sunderland targeting? Are we looking to bring in young players to develop, or will we be spending big money sums on proven entities? How can we use the loan market in a more effective way?
There is no clear answer to these questions at present, but a new owner should make it a priority to establish a clear – and long-term – recruitment plan.
Whatever the answers to these questions, they need to be ingrained in the club’s DNA moving forward. Recruitment plans cannot be ripped up as managers come and go, as that is not how successful clubs operate. This needs to be for the long-term.
A key concern in recent monthshasbeenthedirection – or indeed, lack of it – of the club’s category one academy.
While publicly the club remain committed to the academy,therearegrowingconcerns among supporters – the right investment from a new ownership, could once again produce a host of talent for the Black Cats’ first team.
Many aspects of the currentregimehavefeltextremely short-term.
For Sunderland to be successful, they need an owner whoiswillingtocommittothe club in the long-term. A purchase of the club cannot be viewed as a business opportunity;somethingthatcanquickly be ‘flipped’ for a profit.
Therightownerwillseethe long-term value in purchasing Sunderland, and will put in place plans to ensure this club fulfilsitsundoubtedpotential. We have seen little evidence of that over the last 24 months, but it’s imperative a longerterm view is established in order for the Black Cats to move forward.
Thisisafairlyobviouspoint, but one which needs stating.
Whoever purchases the club needs the financial firepower to move this club forward. We’re not talking about spending millions of pounds on players, but any prospective owner needs to have the capital to invest in the areas of theclubthatareinglaringneed of improvement.
The academy, the recruitment team and the playing squad need investment both intheshort-termandthelongterm.
but another to have the money to drive this club forward.
Sunderland is a special club.Iknowit,youknowit,and any prospective owner of this football club needs to know it.
Whoever purchases the club needs to realise that this is not just a business opportunity. This is a chance to be part of a football club that plays an enormous role in the community, and means a great deal to a great number of people. This is a special opportunity to revive a sleeping giant and make supporters dream again. The ideal buyer will surely recognise that.