Sunderland fans have endured another tough season - with fears for the club's future both on and off the pitch. With the club bottom of the Championship and facing a second successive relegation, supporters have been speculating about what the short-term and long-term plans for the Black Cats are. Rumours have been rife this week that the club is making a major announcement today - but the Echo understands this is not the case. Here's what we know about the speculation. What are the actual rumours? Gossip on social media and internet forums began earlier this week, claiming that the club was to make a significant announcement about its future this week. That eventually turned into talk that today, Wednesday, was D-Day. Speculation about what the actual announcement increased, with the main fears being that the club was set to be placed into administration. The last accounts showed that the club was in debt to the tune of £110million and while some of that will have been reduced by the money recouped in transfer fees last summer - particularly Jordan Pickford - the situation is still difficult. If the club is relegated to League One it will see revenue and income drop again, with an estimated £5million reduction just from EFL payments and their share of the TV rights. That is countered by the parachute payments - £33million - that Sunderland will still receive next season, though. With owner Ellis Short still keen on selling, and believed to have slashed his asking price, talk of administration at this point remains wide of the mark, but there is no doubt Sunderland's financial situation remains precarious. Not today. And not about the financial position of the club. The Echo revealed last week that the club is set to launch its season ticket renewal campaign soon, having taken the decision to close the Premier Concourse next season, so there will be some news coming out of the Stadium of Light imminently. https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...nistration-rife-here-s-what-we-know-1-9062621
The latest accounts are due to be published. Could be that. Heading towards the end of the financial year.
As per the usual from Sunderland I'll prepare myself for the absolute worst disastrous news possible because it'll either be that or if it isn't I'll be ok with whatever it is.
Pretty poor form if the local rag has done this article purely off the back social media gossip. I mean, they have to know something is going to happen surely?
Tomorrow is the 3rd Thursday in March. Next week (22nd March) is the 4th Thursday in March: I don't know how likely it is or isn't that administration is looming but if it was inevitable I would have thought it would have happened by now (why appoint Coleman and say whatever convinced him to come if administration was going to relegate you anyway). If it is in the balance and a gamble based on how likely you are to go down then why not wait until after the Preston game? A week on Friday (23rd) I'll be breathing much more calmly I think.
