Takeovers and transfers – it’s another Q&A with Smithy...
The clock is ticking, on transfers and a takeover.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ ascension to power at the Stadium of Light rumbles on.
While on Monday night, the January transfer window slams shut.
So, what’s happening with Sunderland – onfield and behind the scenes?
Here, our man Phil Smith answers YOUR questions...
Is the takeover really happening? And if so, are we any closer to knowing if Stewart Donald will leave the club completely? Should we be concerned Donald will remain on the board when the takeover goes through?
It’s still very much expected that the takeover will go through.
The EFL Owners’ & Directors’ Test is the final hurdle to clear and there is total confidence that Kyril LouisDreyfus will pass.
So I wouldn’t be too concerned at all that there has been no confirmation yet.
As for the second part of the question, I don’t expect we’ll have any confirmation on exactly how the shareholding breaks down until that approval is granted from the EFL.
The expectation is that Louis-Dreyfus will take a majority shareholding, with the current ownership group all retaining a small number of shares.
It’s unclear whether Juan Sartori and Charlie Methven will have much involvement, but we have seen in recent times that Sartori’s priority is his political career in Uruguay.
Louis-Dreyfus will be the key figure and it would be a surprise if he did not bring in some trusted allies of his own. Remember that Neil Fox, who was essentially Donald’s right-hand at the club, left his position on the board just before the turn of the year.
As for Donald himself, I don’t expect him to have a place on the board.
He resigned as chairman last summer, recognition of the mistakes made in Madrox’s tenure and that his relationship with the fanbase had broken down beyond repair.
He has very obviously still been a key figure as the majority shareholder, but once that mantle passes to LouisDreyfus, the expectation is that Donald will become a silent partner.
There’s always going to be some concern given what has happened over the last two-and-a-half years when the change isn’t total.
I think that’s healthy and the onus on the new regime will be to show that this is going to be real change, with a genuine commitment to long-term growth.
Provide that, and you’ll be rewarded by a passionate and loyal fanbase.
I take some heart from the recent changes in the footballing structure, which Louis-Dreyfus supports and which has a much better long-term focus.
Of course, the proof will be in actions and not words and after the last couple of years, I think that’s the sensible approach to take.
Sunderland must surely get a striker in this month?
It’s unlikely, but Sunderland could soon be without both Will Grigg and Danny Graham.
That would leave just Charlie Wyke and Aiden O’Brien as options.
Johnson was already looking to recruit a new forward player anyway, though maybe one who plays in the slightly more withdrawn role as we’ve seen Lynden Gooch do in recent games. It’s not easy, though. Players in that part of the pitch are the most expensive, and Sunderland are very close to the salary cap limit.
Any injuries (and remember, Grigg and Graham have both been afflicted by injury) also makes it harder then to move on current players and create room that way.
THEN there is the added complication that moving on a player does not necessarily mean you get that full wage
to spend under the complex salary cap rules.
It’s not just Sunderland affected by this.
Lee Bowyer at Charlton Athletic has spoken about the problems this is causing him in the market and Rotherham United boss Paul Warne highlighted it recently, discussing how hard Championship clubs are finding it to offload their fringe players to the lower leagues.
It’s why U21 players from Premier League academies (excluded from the cap) have been seen as the best option.
Johnson wants to be patient, as many of these players are untested, and he doesn’t want to make a mistake.
I expect Sunderland to sign another forward player before the window shuts and I think they need one, but the above outlines why we might need to be patient.
Papa John’s Trophy - waste of time or good chance of silverware?
The prospect of the final being played behind closed doors (that’s not confirmed, but hard to see it being any other way) makes you question the point of playing it this year, other than for the obvious financial reasons.
It would certainly feel like a pretty hollow victory if it was won at Wembley with no one there.
Having said that, I’ve always held the view that Sunderland at this level should be trying to win the league and win this trophy.
At the moment, it has the added bonus of giving Johnson the chance to rotate and freshen things up.
He seems pretty keen on winning it (he got Barnsley to the final but left before it was played) and I think that’s something to be relished.
Let’s hope so.