SUNDERLAND’S interim CEO has confirmed that the club’s ownership group have been approached by external parties looking to purchase or invest in the Black Cats.
But Tom Burwell also insists Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori’s commitment to Sunderland remains as strong as ever, with this summer’s spending on the infrastructure at the Stadium of Light and training ground confirming their willingness to make long-term investment decisions.
Last month, a report was published by Footbiz, a media outlet that focuses on the sporting business world, claiming that Sunderland’s owners had effectively placed the club on the market by securing the services of US investment bank, Moelis, to assist with a potential future sale.
The club’s ownership group released a statement reaffirming that they were “entirely committed” to the club, but failed to dispute the suggestion that Moelis, major players in the world of sporting finance who had previously been involved in the sale of Chelsea, had been taken on board in some capacity.
Louis-Dreyfus is Sunderland’s majority owner with 64 per cent of the shareholding, with Sartori owning the other 36 per cent of the club. They own Sunderland through the parent company Mercator, with the club sitting in their broader portfolio of sporting investments via the Bia Sports Group.
Burwell, who was appointed as Sunderland’s interim CEO following the departure of David Bruce, is also the CEO of Bia, making him a key figure in Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori’s operations.
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Speaking to The Northern Echo at the Stadium of Light alongside director of football, Florent Ghisolfi, he confirmed there had been outside expressions of interest in Sunderland as the club made a successful return to the Premier League and qualified for Europe last season.
However, he also insisted that should not be viewed as any kind of indication that Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori are considering selling up. Indeed, as they look ahead to a second year in the top-flight, he claims their commitment to the Black Cats is deeper than ever.
“I think I can talk about it a bit more holistically,” said Burwell, when asked directly about the reports that Sunderland were effectively up for sale. “The Premier League is the top football league in the world with 20 assets, so there is a level of scarcity that sits around that.
“We have complete connectivity with ownership about where this football club is going to move forward. But we would all be naive to say that people weren't knocking on the ownership's door with all sorts of things, real and unreal, which sort of sits outside of Flo and I.
“But what we can say is that we continue to work with our chairman every day. There is a real connection between the two of us and the ownership in terms of, ‘Where are we going?’”
Burwell also cited this summer’s ongoing investment into club facilities as proof that Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori are not looking to sell up or limit their willingness to spend on the club.
Amongst the changes currently being enacted, there will be an increase in the amount of corporate hospitality that is available next season and improved LED perimeter advertising to help attract corporate sponsors.
Sunderland are clearly looking to maximise revenue to strengthen their position in relation to the Premier League’s new Squad Cost Ratio rules, which are coming into force next season, with no sign of investment from the ownership group slowing.
“What was really important to him (Louis-Dreyfus) was to demonstrate that we’re in year two of a capital expenditure investment programme into the stadium and the academy, behaviours that are of people that are here for the long term.
“So, when we’re talking to the fans, I definitely think we can say that connectivity remains.”
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