SUNDERLAND have confirmed the appointment of Steve Walton as Chief Executive. He will officially commence his duties at the Club on 1st March, 2009.

Walton is currently Corporate Director for Barclays Bank in the North-East and has over 30 years experience with the bank in the UK.

Previously he was Barclays Director of Football for more than a decade. In this role he worked with and advised all its football clients, including Sunderland AFC, and played an integral role in providing funding solutions for more than half of the clubs in the Premiership.

Barclays has been closely allied and associated with Premier League football since its creation, and Steve has been personally involved in the financing of football clubs, instrumental in the flotation of clubs on the stock exchange as well as managing many other pioneering funding arrangements.

He also handled many high-profile player transfers both in the UK and abroad.

Prior to the recent takeover of Newcastle United, he spent five months with the club in 2007 before returning to Barclays.

Commenting on his appointment, Walton said: "I am excited and looking forward to working alongside what I already know is a strong and very professional team of people at Sunderland.

"From my perspective, Sunderland is on firmer footing than in recent years so there is a great platform to build on to make the club an even stronger Premier League brand in the future.

"Having worked as a strategic adviser to many Premier League football clubs for a number of years, I have gained a unique insight and understanding of the challenges and issues faced by Premier League clubs, and I'm proud to have worked so closely with many key figures in the industry and been trusted to advise and assist them.

"Having attended Sunderland games from an early age with my grandfather in the Clock Stand at Roker Park, I never imagined that one day I would be sitting alongside Niall Quinn in the directors' box at the Stadium of Light and steering the club I have supported all my life."

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn added: "I am thrilled that Steve has accepted the position and know he will bring some great qualities to the role. His leadership style, vision and wider knowledge of the football industry will be a real plus for us going forward.

"Steve's practical support of the club goes back a long way from helping with the financing for the Stadium of Light through some more challenging times in recent years. Since the take over he has also been a superb adviser and friend to the club.

"The fact he's supported the lads for the last 40 years and shared in some of the club’s frustrating and exasperating times makes him an ideal candidate to take the club forward."

Walton was born, raised and still lives in the city. He is married to Janet. They have two children, Danielle and Chris.

Also joining the club in the New Year will be Chris Woerts who will join the board in the new post of International Business Development Director.

Woerts will be tasked to develop business opportunities outside the UK with new international partners that will drive additional revenues for the club, and will be working alongside Lesley Callaghan, who will continue to lead on all commercial matters in the UK, marketing and communications.

Woerts worked most recently for Feyenoord in Holland and formerly with Heineken, managing their sponsorship portfolio in the UEFA Champions League and thereafter as Director of Football at Coca Cola where he was responsible for their sponsorship during Euro 1996 and at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

As part of his involvement in Dutch football he is also a member of the ECA committee which oversees media rights for the Champions League.

** READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **