Sunderland owner Stewart Donald says he will leave Sunderland in a “cracking” position after fan-power forced him to put the club up for sale.
The insurance tycoon had confirmed he has reopened talks with several parties after fanzine leaders on Wearside demanded he leaves.
Sunderland plunged to the lowest position in their 140-year history over the festive period, 15th in League One, after a string of bad results.
When he bought the club 20 months ago, Donald vowed not to stick around if he wasn’t wanted, and says he is honouring his promise.
But he insists Phil Parkinson’s side still have a chance of winning promotion and reckons he’s sorted out the club off the pitch, stopping £3m a month in losses.
(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Donald said on Friday night: “I didn’t really want to leave but I made a promise that I was not keen to outstay my welcome and would try and get it right. After the Boxing Day game I have seen the requests from the fans groups and they have all said they would like me to leave. I have to do what I promised to do.
“I don’t agree (with their statements). We changed the manager. We’d like to have 2-3 more wins for sure. That would put us right up there. And we still can be if we win our games in hand.
“The supporters group, the Red and White Army are commenting on the state of the club. I contest the state of the club. An awful lot has changed in 18 months.
“You are talking being projected to lose £3m a month, a team who had won one game at home in 12 months. That doesn’t just fix overnight.
“We wanted to fix it quicker. We got off the field fixed quicker. The feeling from the fans is we have not got it right and that the job is too big for me.
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
“I think we would get it right but I am positive. If the fans don’t want you, you can’t really stay.
“It is a critical time. The fans need to know we have our targets for January. We believe that if we have a strong January and back end we have every chance (of promotion).
“We absolutely will strengthen in January. When I leave I will leave it in the best possible condition. I will do that and then get back on to the people who expressed and interest when we looked for investment. I am now talking to them to see if they want to take the club on.
“The club is debt free, no charges made on it. It is in a cracking position.”
