SUNDERLAND have confirmed the appointment of lifelong supporter Steve Walton as their new chief executive.

Walton, who is currently employed as the North-East Corporate Director of Barclays Bank, was born and raised in Sunderland, and still lives in the city.

He was employed as Barclays’ Director of Football for more than a decade, and was involved in the financing of football clubs, the flotation of clubs on the stock exchange and the management of other pioneering funding arrangements.

He also handled many high-profile player transfers in the UK and abroad, and spent five months working with Newcastle before returning to Barclays in 2007.

“Having attended Sunderland games from an early age, 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,” said Walton, who will take up his new post on March 1.

“Sunderland is on a 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.”

Sunderland also confirmed that Chris Woerts will take up a new post of international business development officer, working with Lesley Callaghan, who will continue to lead commercial matters in the UK.