Every claim and key milestone - one year on from #DonaldOut
It’s close to a year since Sunderland fans called for change with their #DonaldOut campaign – and plenty has happened since.
There have been a host of claims and milestones since that point and plenty of parties have claimed an interest, although the club have not yet changed hands as we approach December 27 and the one year anniversary of the fan-led call for change.
So what’s happened since the #DonaldOut campaign and where do we stand now? We take a look:
December 27th 2019: Sunderland fans launch the #DonaldOut campaign - claiming trust between the club and fanbase has ‘eroded’.
January 3rd 2020: Speaking to BBC Newcastle, Stewart Donald publicly confirmed that he would pursue the sale of the club. Donald said that there had already been ‘lots of interest’, and that he expected the process to take ‘a month or two’
March 29th 2020: Almost three months on from Donald’s original remarks, Charlie Methven discussed the takeover as he promoted the second series of Sunderland ‘Til I Die. Methven said that the Covid-19 crisis had thus far had ‘no material impact’ on takeover talks, which were ‘well progressed and productive’. He said that the ownership would change hands before the end of May.
May 11th 2020: Madrox said that due to the Covid-19 crisis, the club would not be
sold by the end of May and that it was ‘impossible’ to put a timescale on the sale.
July16th2020: StewartDonaldholdsaheatedmeetingwith supporters - during which he confirms the club remains up for sale with an asking price of £37.6million.
July 1 8 th 2 0 2 0 : Donald stands down as Sunderland AFC chairman while confirming his focus remains on find
ing the right buyer for the club.
July 25, 2020: It is revealed that Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has entered a 'period of exclusivity' with a potential buyer as sale talks accelerate. Their identity was not released but it was confirmed to NOT be Mark Campbell or William Storey.
November 11, 2020: Sunderland cancel a planned structureddialoguewithsupporters due to the 'advancement and sensitivity of takeover talks'. Jim Rodwell confirms that the club remain in a period of exclusivity with a preferred bidder .
November 13, 2020: The Guardian report that a group led by Juan Sartori and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus (pictured, left) were in advanced stages of negotiation over a deal. Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven would retain minority stakes, with Sartori and Louis-Dreyfus taking majority control. It was suggested that the deal could be completed within a fortnight.
December 12, 2020: Jim Rodwell confirms that there remains a will on all sides to get a takeover done, and that certain documents have been lodged with the EFL. He also added that the 'seriously complex' process would 'take time'. Rodwell was speaking to the press after national reports regarding a risk of administration - something the chief executive denied.
December 20, 2020: As we approach one year since the campaign was launched, Sunderland remain owned by Stewart Donald - although the Sartori/Louis-Dreyfus deal is thought to be moving closer.