SIR BOB MURRAY is desperate for Sunderland to be in safe hands under prospective new owner Stewart Donald, who he hopes is the right man to take over after the “worst season in the club’s history”.

Donald met with senior EFL officials yesterday to outline his funding plans for the Black Cats.

The takeover process has progressed following the meeting and a club statment last night read: “Following a meeting with the EFL on Friday, and the provision of further information, we can now confirm that the proposed sale of the club could be concluded as early as next week.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to the EFL for their assistance during the process, at what is a very busy time of the football calendar for them.

“We are unable to make further comment at this time.’’

Murray, speaking in an in depth interview with The Northern Echo at the new Beacon of Light community hub, does not know much about Donald, but hopes everything will be in place for him to lead a revival after the fall into League One.

“We all know this was the worst season in Sunderland’s history,” said Murray, who sold the club in 2006 after more than 20 years as chairman. “There’s nothing else to say on that. I know football, I learned it, and when things are bad in football they can always get worse.

“That has always been the case, things can get worse, so why would that change? It depends on who owns your club.”