Premier League - Short set to buy Sunderland

Eurosport - Wed, 27 May 17:33:00 2009

Sunderland confirmed American tycoon Ellis Short is to assume 100 per cent control of the club.

FOOTBALL Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, who confirmed that American tycoon Ellis Short will assume 100 per cent control of the Premier League club - 0

The club's majority shareholder, who bankrolled their summer spending spree last year, will complete his buy-out of the Drumaville consortium put together by chairman Niall Quinn (pictured) three years ago.

Quinn told the club's official website: "This is fantastic news for the club. Ellis has already shown tremendous commitment to date, but this announcement opens the door for a new era at the Stadium of Light."

Short, who had previously kept a low profile since becoming involved with the club, has recently become a more public figure, appearing beside Quinn in the directors' box at Portsmouth last Monday evening and then again at the Stadium of Light at the weekend.

He was on hand to witness the wild celebrations as the Black Cats secured their Barclays Premier League status despite a 3-2 defeat by Chelsea as arch-rivals Newcastle slipped into the Championship.

However, amid suggestions he could pump up to a further £20 million into the club, Quinn revealed Short has already played a major role in its recent development.

He said: "I first met Ellis at the Ryder Cup in 2006 and he was immediately interested in the Sunderland story and what we were trying to achieve.

"He's an avid sports fan and caught the football bug following his move to the UK 10 years ago, and is now a huge fan of the Premier League.

"Even before today, he has personally invested more in Sunderland than all previous chairmen, directors and owners combined in the club's history.

"Late last summer, he injected tens of millions of pounds to fund our new signings and the resultant increased wage bill. In going forward, as long as we invest the funds wisely, he will continue to provide what has been the missing ingredient in Sunderland's make-up, namely the financial muscle necessary to compete at the highest level."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. We are the best North East side right now. But I­ don't want to boast about it 'cos 36 points is­ a poor return.

    The squad may need strengthening, but­ we won't have sufficient money to transform it­ during the summer. However, the good news is that we­ have a squad of decent players who underperformed­ massively.

    If the new manager gets the best out of our­ existing players then we will make progress next­ season.

    Hopefully, I can boast if we are higher up the­ table come the end of the season.

    From Steve G, on Thu 28 May 10:10AM

  2. what you on about the cream of the north-east, and yeah­ we are the best and theres no luck to do with it, youll­ see that next season sunderland got to build on it,­ europe i think right now is pushing it but ya never­ know and we should be able for mid-table. HA' WAY­ THE LADS!

    From joanne.henry, on Thu 28 May 9:05AM

  3. Tony K

    Fact: where have you been hiding the last 3­ days
    Another Fact:Newcastle United were relegated­ coincidently 3 days ago"Fact"
    Also I­ don't know if you're aware, Plymouth is a 700­ mile round trip "Fact"
    Another little Fact is­ that the Fact Hunt who runs you're little funny­ Factory up the road is so Sorry!
    "Fact number­ 9" I think, We Mackems are the Master race/Top­ dogs/Cream of the crop/Premier league superstars of­ north eastern football and you're not -Yep you­ guessed it "Fact"
    So before I go ofF­ ACTually, to sleep easy in my oh so premier bed.I would­ like to remind you that you may get drawn against­ Factrington Stanley in the 3rd round of the FA­ ctup.(couldn't stop me self bonny lad)
    And the­ final factor of these"oh so sweet factual­ truths" is that this site is For teams that­ ACTually play in the English Premier league and not the­ -Wor Tiny-side Sunda League bonny lad-­ "Fact"

    From PWilson, on Wed 27 May 11:02PM

  4. oh tony k u crawled out of ur hiding place have u well­ i didn't see many takers when ur club were after a­ manager only an old washed up cockney was available­ which lead to ur relegation pity help shearer if he­ takes the job on full time he'll have a tough time­ in the championship and oh before i go
    LEAGUE FACT u­ ain't in it anymore so kindly disappear to the­ championship pages and use a straw to drink ur coca­ cola

    From heslop448, on Wed 27 May 10:42PM

  5. Dont worry Sundarland fans Newcastle will be back in­ the Premier League 4 more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....

    From John, on Wed 27 May 6:46PM

  6. hey lads , hanbags at six `o`clock . some jumped up­ city dweller saying , "lay orf ones city" oh­ my , i do remember loads of shtick comming our way­ whence ones where up and down . "some game on a­ string " well get used to it . you`ve only got yer­ selves to blame , demanding this and demanding that, in­ came Keegan, (legged it) then joe 90 and then the­ messiah , you lot think you are the biggest in the­ north east ....... well eat this M/F S.A.F.C. in the­ prem . By the way the monkeys live a few miles south of­ us. FTM

    From its me !, on Wed 27 May 6:11PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who's going to want to manage your bunch of­ inbreds??? Newcastle will always be the bigger and­ better city, you are just our inbred neighbours with­ nothing better to do than mock our club. Concentrate on­ your own city before trying to worry about ours. Give­ Mclaren the Job!! Ha Ha, Mackem Monkeys!

    From n99edw, on Wed 27 May 5:54PM

  8. gannin now , got me tea to eat and there`s a match on­ the telly , some final or summit. bye bye scum . FTM 4­ eva

    From its me !, on Wed 27 May 5:54PM

  9. N.
    U.
    F.
    C.
    no , use , F***ing , Crying ha ha ha ha ha­ aaaah . that just feels great . ha`way the lads­ s.a.f.c. 4 eva

    From its me !, on Wed 27 May 5:34PM

  10. Must be an experienced manager who isn't past their­ prime.

    From Steve G, on Wed 27 May 5:15PM

  11. Martin Jol would be good as well.

    From Steve G, on Wed 27 May 5:14PM

  12. Wigan will struggle to keep managers for a long time.­ If Wigan punch above their weight then their manager­ will move on to a higher profile club. If Wigan do­ badly then I suspect the manager will be for the chop.­ Steve Bruce has stayed with Wigan a few years. Not bad­ really.

    I would be delighted if Sunderland can keep an­ excellent manager for 3 years. We have had 5 managers­ in 5 years.

    From Steve G, on Wed 27 May 5:10PM

  13. Wigan will struggle to keep managers for a long time.­ If Wigan punch above their weight then their manager­ will move on to a higher profile club. If Wigan do­ badly then I suspect the manager will be for the chop.­ Steve Bruce has stayed with Wigan a few years. Not bad­ really.

    I would be delighted if Sunderland can keep an­ excellent manager for 3 years. We have had 5 managers­ in 5 years.

    From Steve G, on Wed 27 May 5:10PM

  14. yeah! i agree with steve "g" Mclaren scares­ me , any one but him. I would like to see peter tailor­ ..... a proper football gadgy ha`way the lads s.a.f.c.­ 4 eva

    From its me !, on Wed 27 May 4:52PM

  15. Steve G u have obviously not a clue he has a very­ supportive chairman and owner at wigan he is im afraid­ to say a money grabbing W***ER. I appreciate the job­ he has done for wigan but if he goes we will get­ manager who wants to manage us our own legend Roberto­ Martinez! If he does take over at sunderland put your­ house on that he wont last 3 years till someone else­ dangles their wallet in front of him

    From 1982, on Wed 27 May 4:19PM

  16. I could not stomach McClaren as manager.

    From Steve G, on Wed 27 May 3:38PM

  17. Steve Bruce has not had a bad stint at any club. Not­ many managers have as clean a track record.

    He left­ Crystal Palace sharpish though which is­ worrying.

    Hopefully, if he comes to Sunderland he will­ stay for a long and very successful time. He­ couldn't hope for a more supportive chairman and­ smart owner.

    From Steve G, on Wed 27 May 3:37PM

  18. Thats McLaren out then fatlad

    From stub1, on Wed 27 May 3:05PM

  19. i thank we can do better than steve bruce as manager we­ need some one with commitment and not just to the team­ but to the fans as well not to walk away when it gets­ bad as steve bruce has at more than one premier league­ team b4 as we all know no roy c back at safc

    From fatlad_homer, on Wed 27 May 12:50PM
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