Following a year of uncertainty on Wearside, the much anticipated takeover of Sunderland is finally set to be completed. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is set to acquire Stewart Donald’s controlling interest, the club’s official website has confirmed. Should the EFL approve the deal, it will see Louis-Dreyfus become the new chairman of Sunderland early in the New Year.
Agreement Made for Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to Become the New Chairman of Sunderland
Stewart Donald Finally Gives Update on Takeover
It has been one year since Stewart Donald put Sunderland up for sale. In that time there has been many rumours. However, Donald has been quiet throughout. Today he finally gave fans an update: “It’s been no secret that I have been looking for some time to find the right person to take Sunderland forward and during the course of the last year there have been a lot of different people wanting to take over.
“However, even though it is a matter of public record that some of those bidders offered me more money, I felt that they offered less to the club and to the community. Whereas from the early meetings with Kyril, his family and advisers, I have been greatly impressed with their knowledge and understanding, learned over a long period as owners of major football clubs in Belgium and France.
”I believe that experience, combined with a good plan, will provide a platform for the club to progress and I look forward to watching that progress from afar.”
Statement From Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Speaking to safc.com, the son of former Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus said: “First, I would like to thank Stewart Donald for his integrity and reasonableness over the last three months, which has led to me having the opportunity to take a controlling stake in Sunderland AFC.
“I am fully aware of the efforts undertaken by the current ownership and Board to protect the viability of the club and respect the difficulty of this task, given Sunderland’s recent past and the current economic climate.
“We respectfully await the EFL’s approval for this transaction. Nonetheless it would be remiss of me at this stage not to emphasise what an enormous honour it would be for me to become involved with such a historic club, in a city renowned for its rich football culture going back to 1879. Many will be aware of my family connections to the industry and, in acquiring Sunderland AFC, I understand the responsibility that’s placed upon me as the custodian of the club’s future.
Louis-Dreyfus is Aiming High
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has England’s top tier in his sights as he attempts to get the Black Cats back amongst the country’s elite as soon as possible.
The 22-year-old is the son of former Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus. Along with his brother, Louis-Dreyfus is one of three heirs to his father’s fortune. A trust fund currently held by his mother stands at around £2 billion. His father Robert died in 2009.
“Moving forward, we have a long-term strategy which integrates Sunderland’s proud traditions with a modern structure and approach,” he continued.
“We will seek to be at the frontier of research and innovation in all performance domains and place great emphasis on player development and the team’s style of play.
“We want to create a team that is entertaining to watch and that embodies the spirit and the culture of those who attend, thereby reconnecting the team with its fanbase, whose support will be so vital to our success.
“In the midst of a global pandemic, we should all be aware of the difficult situation the club is currently in and the challenges we face in the months to come. However, through hard work, a diligent plan and togetherness from the Board of Directors, staff, players and supporters we can between us create a brighter future at the Stadium of Light. If we all play our parts, I firmly believe we can restore Sunderland AFC to the top tier of English football and I can’t wait to get started.”
In the Hands of the EFL
The deal for Louis-Dreyfus to take control of Sunderland has now been lodged with the Football League. The EFL will now need to approve all aspects of the deal in order for the takeover to be completed. Due to the time of year, it is not expected that a conclusion will be reached until the middle of January at the earliest.
Following a disastrous few years, Sunderland and their fans will now be hoping that today’s news will be the beginning of a bright new era on Wearside. Following all that has happened in recent years, Sunderland, their fans and the city could do with some joy at the Stadium of Light.
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