Takeover deal will put Cats on the right path & provide clarity – Lee
Lee Johnson is hopeful that the completion of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus' takeover will help bring 'clarity' for everyone at the club.
Louis-Dreyfus attended Sunderland' s defeat to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night and has been on Wearside in recent days as he steps up preparations.
The deal has not yet been fully ratified by the EFL but Johnson has been confident throughout the process that it will be concluded, and said yesterday that it is 'as about as close as it can get'.
The appointment of Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman and then Johnson was a central part of the planned overhaul of the club, but the sensitivity of the deal has limited what the head coach can say about it.
It has made for a frustrating period for supporters, and Johnson says he is excited for them to heart he plans Louis Dreyfush as, and where he then fits into that.
Johnson is confident that the deal is a 'really good thing' for the club.
"The messaging has to come from the top," Johnson said.
"The best clubs that I've seen and have been involved in have that really strong, positive messaging from the top.
"That communication line is strong and effectively, the head coach becomes a disciple of that and that's the way it should be. You should fit the club's philosophy and that way you can build.
"I think it's a really good thing, I really do.
"We can get caught up and bogged down, we're so emotional about wins and losses because we' re all so passionate, but the big long-term picture has to be the right thing for the football club.
"The messaging from the top really should be very exciting for everybody and I'm looking forward to that first interaction[ between] the ownership and the fans.
"I think that'll set us on the right path and everyone will be accountable to that."
Johnson confirmed on Tuesday night that he had held talks with the prospective new majority shareholder and chairman.
The head coach said he was 'very confident' in Louis-Dreyfus' motives and impressed with the 24-year-old's plans for the clubs.
"I'm very, very confident in his motives," Johnson said.
"I'm very confident in his ideas, he's bright, intelligent and he's got good ideas.
"Obviously he's got experience as well, and it reminds me a bit of myself in terms of my dad being a manager, and having the front-row seat as I grew up.
"He's had that with his family and their ownership of Olympique de Marseille and Club Brugge.
"Every contact I' ve had with Kyril impresses me more and more.
"He's got a sound board behind him depending on how the shake up works, in terms of experience of what's gone well and what hasn't gone well.
"When I came to the club I really believed that we needed to be brave. Sometimes even I get caught up in the short term and in the last couple of games my frustration maybe got the better of me. I need to guard against that because it's about the long-term plan we need and are putting in place.
"For staff and players to get that clarity will give us that path and fresh start that everybody wants."