Short has sold up and paid the debt off!!!!
Sunderland owner Ellis Short has agreed to sell the club to a group led by Stewart Donald, the chairman of National League side Eastleigh, the Wearside club have announced.
The club has also sacked
Chris Coleman as manager. The 47-year-old left his role as Wales national team boss to succeed Simon Grayson at the Stadium of Light last November. But Coleman could not prevent the Black Cats from suffering relegation during his five months in charge.
Short said: “It is no secret that I have been trying to sell Sunderland but I have waited until the right group came along that have the experience, finances and plan to take this great club back to where it deserves to be.
“Overall, my chairmanship has not gone the way I would have wished; the many high points of a decade in the Premier League have been overshadowed by the low points of the last two terrible seasons. I was therefore determined to ensure that I leave Sunderland in the best possible hands and in the best possible state to turn the corner.
“To achieve this, higher offers from less qualified buyers were rejected and I have paid off all the debts owed by the club to leave it financially strong and debt free.”
Donald, who will relinquish his chairmanship of Eastleigh, said: “Our group have all been involved in building - or rebuilding – football clubs to reach their potential and we believe over the last decade we have axquired the necessary skillsets to overcome the many challenges that will face us as this huge club.”
The deal between Short and Donald, who will now relinquish ownership of Eastleigh, is subject to English Football League approval.
A statement on the club’s official website also read: “The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Chris and Kit for their tireless efforts in what has been a hugely disappointing season for everyone involved with the club.”