STEWART DONALD insists Sunderland are still in a position to grant Phil Parkinson’s wish of improving the squad when the January window opens.

The Black Cats chairman has come under greater fire this week and during an interview with BBC Newcastle he has stressed how important it is for Parkinson to be given some freedom to tinker.

His comments have arrived after concerns were raised among supporters following Donald’s admission that a £10m injection of funds from the FPP group is effectively a loan secured against the Stadium of Light and Academy of Light.

That loan is being used to include improvements on infrastructure projects, the academy, and recruitment structures, but he claims Parkinson will still be helped to try to deliver promotion from League One.

“The biggest single priority is getting out of the league,” Donald said. “If we need to spend, we’ll spend. Having spoken to the manager and got his initial assessment of the squad, there’s no doubt he’s going to want to strengthen the squad. He sees some positives but also some things that we need to address.

“I was always realistic, getting a new manager always costs quite a bit of money because generally then want to have their own team around them and they’ll have their eye on a few players etc. We’ll do what’s needed.”

Sunderland’s big January buy last year was Will Grigg but the £4m outlay has only seen him find the net in five of his 33 league appearances so far.

“Last January I tried to do what was needed, it just didn’t work, but I’d still maintain that if you were put in my shoes, you’d do what I did,” said Donald, who sold Josh Maja for £3m before that signing.

“It didn’t work, it didn’t always work, but the reality of it is that we’ll have to try and have a better January than we did last year.

“At the moment, (Will) doesn’t look good value for money. But the boy has got a proven pedigree, he’s a good lad with desire. Phil has got to get him firing, and if he does he’ll be one of the best investments I’ve made.”

Sunderland’s scheduled FA Cup first round replay at Gillingham next Tuesday, November 19, will still go ahead on that date at 7.45pm.