Lady Cats, stars and supporters – what new owners need to do
Sunderland fans continue to await developments on the proposed takeover of the club, with a consortium led by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori believed to be in advanced negotiations to assume the majority shareholding from Stewart Donald.
On Wearside, there is optimism and specticism. Fresh start, or a reshuffle?
And after the acrimony and disappointment of the last 18 months, what do Sunderland actually need from new ownership?
Here, in the second of two parts following yesterday's first, which covered leadership, strategy, recruitment and the academy, we conclude our seven-point plan that any new regime must follow…
Everything was in place to support the club's return to the top tiers of the women's game, only for the season to be curtailed due to the pandemic.
Sunderlandweredominant in their division, and a series of departures from a talented playing squad followed.
When they return to action, they will be in a decent position to push back towards the top.
Yet again, the talent in the region has been underlined by the rapid progression of a number of young players. The quality is unquestionably there to return to the upper tiers. The future can be bright, and it is up to a new regime to safeguard it.
Ta ke a p ro - ac tive a p - proach to squad building
Su n d e rl a n d 's b e s t t wo players of the Madrox era, Jon McLaughlinandJoshMaja,left for a fraction of their true value as a result of poorly-handled contract negotiations.
Richard Hill was widely praised by Madrox figures for his role in talks over the future of players such as Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong, but a confrontational approach increasingly alienated agents.
Coupled with the uncertainty at boardroom level that prevented proper forward planning; the impact was significant. Any new regime will arrive at the club with a handful of players with real future value heading towards the last six months of their deal.
It's another area that would underline the progress or otherwise of a new regime.
It's imperative that players such as Denver Hume, Luke O'Nien and Jordan Willis don't follow the same route as Maja.
Createconsistencyinsupporter relations
Madrox began by making themselves accessible to supporters. After the malaise and silence of the latter years of Ellis Short's tenure, it was refreshing and welcomed.
Relations, though, suffered significantly when inconsistencies over much of what was said became clear, and many of the lofty promises did not lead to anything substantial.
The solution for any regime is two-fold.
Day-to-day leadership on Wearside, whether through the chair of the board or the CEO, will provide an obvious reference point for communications, both through the media and directly to supporters.
Sunderland has a thriving fan culture, from fanzines to its branches and the Red & White Army.
The flurry of life and colour in the Roker End, as well as the staggering attendance for a Boxing Day win over Bradford City, showed the power there to be harnessed.
It isn't about grand promises, just honesty and consistency.