Sunderland owner Stewart Donald lashes out at his side’s ‘abusive’ fans in latest comments posted via social media recently.
Incredibly, he’s blamed the League One club’s fanbase for scaring off potential buyers – however club legend Michael Gray is hoping to be their hero.
The Black Cats are looking at suffering a third season in the third tier of English football after enduring what was the worst season in the crisis-club’s history.
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He met with supporters on Thursday and Donald said he has been forced to step aside from running the club because of “negative messages on social media and family intimidation”.
He is asking would-be buyers to pay a price of £37.6million, which is the same he paid for the club in 2018.
Former left-back Gray, who played over 350 times for the Tyne and Wear outfit, is part of a consortium.
He tweeted: “All I can say is we are trying our best to come up with a solution to get our club back on track…things important as this takes time…it may or may not happen.”
Twitter is not the place to be making statements…. I took a call 2 days ago but not from Mr Donald… All I can say is we are trying our best to come up with a solution to get our club back on track.. things important as this take time… it may or may not happen #Safc
— michael gray (@mickygray33) July 16, 2020
Donald alleged in an informal meeting that “the attitude of the fans is putting off investors”, that he wants “his family safe at the point of sale” and that “people were outside of his house following a tweet from a committee member”.
However former forward Stephen Elliot has come out in support of the supporters by slamming the Sunderland owner who lashes out at ‘abusive’ fans.
The ex-Black Cats forward tweeted: “If I was a potential purchaser, surely the biggest pull & selling point would be the passion & love from a huge & unbelievable fan base.
“Can’t believe I’m hearing that fans are being ‘used’ as a reason for failure to sell the club.
“The more statements SD makes the more obvious it seems he’s inadequate to run a club like Sunderland…the last few seasons have deteriorated into a car crash.”
It was back in December that Donald announced he wanted to sell Sunderland due to the pressure from fans.
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After nine dismal years, the club’s former owner Ellis Short left, and excitement grew as Donald – who previously owned Eastleigh, arrived at the Stadium of Light.
Season Two of their much watched Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die, it’s obvious to see how quick things went downhill, with Donald stating that he “had to take some security measures”.
The club’s parachute payments after relegation from the top flight was used for the buyout, though he insists that this will eventually be restored in a full payment before being sold.
Fans reckon it’s the £40m price tag that is putting buyers off taking over the club, however Donald clearly thinks differently, and the Sunderland owner feels fine as he often lashes out at ‘abusive’ fans.
He tried to explain on BBC Radio Newcastle why he values Sunderland at that amount.
He said: “The price is, as all the bidders have been told, what I paid for it.
“I don’t think I should take a loss on the football club because it is in much better condition.
“I know they want me out, and I am desperately trying to get out.
“The fans have asked me to leave and I am getting a little bit of abuse as I am sure you can imagine.
“My phone number was posted online and I have had to take some security measures.
“The abuse is increasing, they said I was killing the club but I am doing my best – which I appreciate isn’t good enough.”
Just six months ago, Sunderland fans were fuming after another statement was issued by Steward Donald.
The #DonaldOut campaign was the reason for the owner to kick start it’s process to sell the club.
Stewart Donald on BBC Newcastle: “I know they want me out and I’m desperately trying to get out.”#SAFC pic.twitter.com/d9wriQ8vTO
— Mark Donnelly (@markdonnelly_) July 16, 2020
SUNDERLAND’S STATEMENT:
After the Boxing Day draw against Bolton Wanderers FC, various groups of Sunderland fans – including the main representative fan body – issued a joint statement calling for the club to be sold immediately.
Stating that “No-one knows the long-term plan for the club, and trust between the fans and the boardroom has eroded”, it went on to demand: “If there is a realistic offer on the table, he (Stewart Donald, chairman) must admit the enormity of the task and cut his losses.”
This statement was then backed up on BBC Radio by a representative of the groups, who declared that he expected the Board to agree to their demands, which had “not been made lightly”.
Co-ordinated, ‘no turning back’ campaigns of this kind against owners are highly unusual at any club – particularly after 18 months.
Given these circumstances, and Stewart Donald’s sincere commitment on his arrival at Sunderland AFC that “I won’t outstay my welcome”, the Board feels that it has no option but to sell the club.
That process has now commenced. Owing to confidentiality agreements, there will be no further updates until a preferred bidder is identified.
Mr Donald had met with the ‘Supporter Collective’ group of representative fans bodies (including some signatories to the December 27th demand) earlier that month, as part of the regular engagement programme undertaken by Sunderland AFC’s Board (minutes of which are available publicly).
Mr Donald apologised for a poor run of results but shared his staff’s confidence that first team form would improve due to two key factors – higher fitness levels as the new management team’s conditioning program bedded in; and the January transfer window, in which he was expecting to invest significantly.
The meeting was friendly and constructive and no impression of significant levels of disquiet as to how the club is being run was received.
Therefore, it was a matter of surprise to read a few days later – and without any warning – a statement demanding Mr Donald leave the club.
Furthermore, the timing of the demand was not obviously conducive to the immediate improvement of the first team squad and as a result, the club’s chances of promotion.
Whilst progress on the pitch has been slower than all associated with Sunderland AFC would have liked, the club has become one of the very few in the EFL to be debt free and break even on an operational basis.
With that stable base, the significant investment by FPP, and with the team now back in contention for promotion, the Board believes that Sunderland continues to head in the right direction.
Given the scale of the task on arriving at the club and the amount of hard work put in over the last 18 months, the current owners would have preferred more time to complete the job and fully implement the vision originally laid out.
However, recent events indicate that is not what some fans wish for – and, as football supporters themselves, the Board understands that long-term success cannot be achieved by a disunited club.
Stewart Donald commented: “We would like to place on record our thanks for the wonderful support we have received from SAFC’s phenomenal supporters.
We would also like to reassure those loyal fans that we are placing sufficient funds in the club to support the manager as he seeks to improve the first team in the next few weeks.
Finally, I just ask that fans now unite to support the players and the coaching staff.”
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