BBC are reporting that former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has joined up with a consortium and is talking with current owner Ellis Short about a potential takeover. The consortium is backed by unnamed Irish and north east businessmen.
Short has made no secret of his desire to sell the Championship side and recently offered to sell the club for nothing in exchange for taking on the debt that Sunderland have accrued during his time in charge.
Quinn previously headed the Irish Drumaville Consortium, which took over a controlling stake in the club in 2006 and under his guidance the club won promotion to the Premier League. Short then purchased the club off the Irish consortium in 2009. Quinn remained as chairman until 2011 before Short took on the role, Quinn cutting his ties from the club after spending five months as the club’s director of international development.
Short's tenure at the club has seen the Black Cats fall to the bottom of the Championship and although the north east club have installed former Wales coach Chris Coleman as their manager, their fortunes have not changed. Sunderland have lost eight of their last ten games, drawing the other two and are five points from safety on 28 points with eight games left of the season.
According to the BBC report, as part of any deal Short could put in a place a two year 'grace period' before the debts owed to him are recouped.
Fans have responded positively to the news that the former Sunderland player is set to be involved with the club again:
— cheeses of nazereth (@cheesesofnaz) March 26, 2018
Sunderland fans could do with some good news. Hope this comes off.
— Kloppo (@swettypits) March 26, 2018
I really really really really really really really really really really want it to happen
— LokizzleGaming (@BelcherLiam) March 26, 2018
Yup but don't care as long as short goes I'm happy
— Nick (@nicholaswilso11) March 26, 2018
H/T: BBC Sport
