Amidst all the transfer rumours and gossip, Sunderland have issued a statement confirming owner Stewart Donald has put the club up for sale.
The news comes after various fan groups issued a joint statement calling for the club to be sold after the Boxing Day draw with League One strugglers Bolton Wanderers.
Donald took over the fallen giants in May 2018, purchasing the club from Ellis Short after their disastrous relegation to League One.
The former Eastleigh owner always maintained he would not outstay his welcome and the statement suggests his decision to sell the club is due to fan discontent at the way he is running the club.
Donald is credited with steadying the ship after several chaotic years but after narrowly missed out on returning to the Championship last season, losing to Charlton Athletic in the play-off final, a disappointing start to the current campaign has heightened the pressure-cooker atmosphere at the Stadium of Light.
Manager Jack Ross was sacked in October and replaced with Phil Parkinson, a decision that was poorly received by many fans of the club. Despite the recent slight upturn in fortunes on the pitch, the atmosphere around the club remains fraught.
The news was greeted by anger from many fans on social media who rightly point out that Donald was recently in negotiations to sell the club to an American consortium. Some supporters accuse the owner of incorrectly blaming the fans, suggesting the club has actually been up for sale since the summer.
While plenty of fans will be happy to see Donald leave, they are still angered at his latest statement and suggest an element of ‘divide and rule’ tactics.
One thing appears clear, blaming fans for anything to do with any club, not just Sunderland, is a dangerous route to take, as the following selection of responses to the announcement illustrate.
What an absolutely disgusting statement.
— Sess (@FPL_Sess) January 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/WestSussexSAFC/status/1214481231263469569?s=20
Absolutely classic divide and conquer hyperbole. Cherry picking the truth. SD has no money, has been trying to sell for a year, brought in disastrous PP and we are unlikely to go up this season. To try and blame the fans/fan groups is an absolute joke. @WiseMenSayPod @RokerReport
— Ian Carse (@OnABreakHistory) January 7, 2020
More divide and rule tactics. I reckon Stewart will still be here at the end of the season after failing to find a 'suitable buyer'. If he wants to turn it around then invest in the team and the academy.
— Martin Parker (@ShieldsMPSAFC) January 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/JonathanPlace1/status/1214476282140004352?s=20
https://twitter.com/AndrewGarethP/status/1214482709650821121?s=20
Want the fans to unite? Don't put out a statement which will cause fans to attack each other. We all know that nothing has changed and the club has always been for sale as many people have said there was people at the play off final who were looking to buy.
— Mike Parkin (@MikeyParkin) January 7, 2020
We were taken over by a 12 year old boy. Had a tantrum and stormed off and everyone elses fault
— Peter Cooper 🇾🇪 🟥⬜️🟥⬜️ (@sunlunpete) January 7, 2020
Bizzare statement! He’s been trying to sell since he got in. Mind I do think he has worked hard since he got here though, no issues on that front.
— Ben (@benwlane) January 7, 2020
Exactly. Was happy to parade that Campbell at Wembley and tell people about the American takeover, but after they went tits up it’s now the fans fault for forcing him to sell??
— Hudson (@huds8118) January 7, 2020
