Tuesday 24 April 2018 17:36, UK
Sunderland CEO Martin Bain says a number of parties are interested in buying the club.
Current owner Ellis Short has long admitted to wanting to sell the club and with Sunderland's relegation to League One confirmed, Bain says there is clarity for any potential buyer to formulate a deal.
"There are a few parties who are currently looking at the club in a meaningful way," Bain told Chronicle Live. "I have one single priority at the moment, to try and assist a sale and help full diligence be done.
"We have an owner who is very actively trying to sell the club and that will be the game-changer for Sunderland AFC.
"We hope that a new owner comes in, will have a better financial backdrop than what there has been in recent years and will be able to provide that spark.
"It surprises me that it has not been sold before now, maybe that is people seeing what is under the bonnet when they look."
Bain claimed players at the club on high wages were a reason for potential owners being put off buying Sunderland rather than the debt of around £100m.
"I wouldn't say debt is the fundamental problem," Bain said. "I'd say it was very much about the running costs and future financial forecasts.
"You have, for example, players who don't want to be here eating up vasts amount of our budget."
Bain said that despite the club's debt, Short will not put the club into administration.
"Ellis funds the club's losses, I have spoken to him and he has assured me that he will continue to do so", he said.
He also gave his backing to manager Chris Coleman saying that additions would be made to the squad this summer.
"This summer, if the club is not sold, we're looking at probably 14 players required," he added. "We have a great manager in Chris, who is the right person, and we have a massive determination to make things right."
Relegation to League One was Sunderland's second demotion in two years but Bain has vowed to fight on in England's third tier.
"I still have the same desire to work here, the same passion for the club, and the same desire to turn it around, but if it doesn't change hands then everything depends on that conversation with Ellis," he said.
