Thanks for this. Understand that you probably cant comment in the specifics above even though I tried to write them as generally as possible! It does look like everyone including yourself of course has posted in good faith, and possibly everyone is really hearing the same thing apart from timing and what constitutes discussions. Good that there is fpp interest still and hopefully will come off at some point. We really need it.
I've no idea what you've actually heard, and wouldn't want to ask, but it's reassuring. I've been told Fuhrman is the most keen and that FPP's solicitors are on top of everything. Donald is just being bombastic imo ... ... shame.
I’m not finding it as reassuring unfortunately. It’s definitely sounding more like FPP just want to buy us but not at the price Donald is willing to sell at. Which is no further than we were months ago. There definitely feels a more concerted effort from FPP to push a deal through, but seemingly no evidence that Donald is actually relenting in any way.
The thing with Donald is he knows this is his big chance and won’t want to let it go ‘too cheaply’ as then he’ll have to watch someone sell us on for 300M in a few years and think damn that could have been me.
The rumors converging on fpp shifting into actively wanting to buy is the key, and makes me see this as positive. I can’t see any other outcome than an eventual fpp purchase in this scenario. They would have to be outbid by more than the cost to pay the loan back and no one has done that in a year.
Seems like the Don has two options to me; 1 sell at a price someone else is willing to pay or 2 don't sell and cover the losses. My suspicion is option 1 will be the end result as he hasn't the cash for option 2.
worst case scenario is Donald literally gambles on promotion this year and then someone might bite at his price...its crap for the fans and I guess some of the potential buyers will move on if thats the case. I think if we are mid table by quarter of the season is done, then he just might buckle and reduce his price..but lets see
FPP are in the driving seat... they are giving SD enough rope, see him squirm and then back him into a corner and he’ll be forced to sell... they obviously can afford the £37m price but I’m guessing it’s principle after last summer. Why pay the full price, even if you can afford it when you can get it cheaper! There’s no rush to take over Sunderland in there eyes as they probably see it as a long term plan rather than smash/grab as SD did (that’s my hope anyway). He’ll be gone as he’s on his last life, we just need to all be patient
He’ll have to, as he’s gambling on promotion. No promotion then he has no chance of getting £37m! (He’s got no chance anyway even if we get promoted as it’s going to cost a fortune to turn us around behind the scenes never mind on it)
No disrespect to anyone posting on here but two days ago (and correct me if i’m wrong) most the itk’s were saying everything was rosy with one member of FPP and sartori and his father in law looking to buy us and now it’s the 3 members of FPP and we haven’t agreed a price yet? I appreciate any info but personally I’ll go with what Nick Barnes says. Easy to write him off and say Donald has took him for a mug but i’m not sure Nick Barnes would be that daft and risk his professional reputation if he wasn’t certain. Too many contradictory stories on the forums. Not sure what Smug In Boots meant when he said he found it ‘re-assuring’ that someone posted a price hasn’t been agreed?
I don't think the club losing money affects SD in the slightest, the only way it'll hurt his own pocket is if he subsidises losses, but there's no onus on him to actually do that. The club has its own income and expenditure, with the assets and loans all secured against one another. If it ever came to the club going bust, it wouldn't hurt him whatsoever (other than obviously losing whatever money he paid for the club and denting his pride). I don't buy that financially he's struggling - he's selling because he wanted to flip the club for a profit and has realised he can't get the club back to the Championship to do that. His balancing act is working out how long the club can stay afloat without denting his asking price. The sale of academy players, redundancies and long term furlough is all done with the intention of maximising the budget and keeping the club running with that in mind.
Again, this is 100% what I've now heard. I'd love to know your source (I know you wouldn't tell me and rightly so) but I reckon I know who it isn't, and I reckon the one it isn't is the source for everyone else
But surely the risk is that we start the season well and Donald decides to hold on to the club as he thinks we will get promoted?
"Too many contradictory stories on the forums." There are 3 different 'buyers' making noises ... ... of course there are different stories, I've been sent two. The most vocal is William Storey who, for all we know, may end up as the owner. I've had nothing from his camp. It's a period of turmoil and difficult to predict what will happen ... ... which is why I, and other people, haven't done that as far as I can see.
Said before, promotion doesn't massively help. You get about £6m more, but given wage rises and the amount you have to spend just to be a contender to avoid relegation, you're not really much better off. He has to go, he just has to realise it
I cant see him gambling for a third time....he has messed up twice and will be even more reluctant to take another go at promotion which may or may not come off.....I know what I'd do
I do wonder whether this is a good sign though. If a price has already been agreed, would it be in SD's best interests to cut expenditure as much as possible before the takeover is completed?
I don’t think he would have a good matchday experience and certainly wouldn’t be popping for a pint with salmon pants
