Sunderland confirm takeover talks http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/4956200.stm
ALl over SKy Sports too mate. They have been holding back letting on they are in talks but finally broke the silence. Cant wait!
Quinn - I want in NIALL Quinn is in discussions to buy Sunderland Football Club – and chairman Bob Murray is desperate to sell it to the Irishman. The Echo understands Quinny is in discussions over a possible £16million takeover – backed by a consortium of four Irish investors. The announcemant was made to the Stock Exchange last night, ending weeks of speculation. Quinn will be at the Stadium of Light on Monday for the clash with Arsenal – which is now expected to be a sell-out. Speaking exclusively to the Echo, Mr Murray said: "I've always wanted Niall to buy the club from me, and I've gone all out to get what I want." NIALL Quinn will raise the roof of the Stadium of Light when he puts in an appearance in the directors' box on Monday. The Irishman will attend the Arsenal game as a guest of Chairman Bob Murray as the two continue to work together to thrash out a deal which could see Quinn taking a controlling interest at the club. Quinn wants to buy the controlling interest in the club from his close friend Murray - and the Chairman is adamant Quinn is the man he wants to take the club forward. "I'm sure a packed Stadium of Light will want to welcome Niall," said Murray this morning in an exclusive interview with the Echo. "I'm looking for the fans and the city to respond to Niall and I'm sure they will. He's always been popular here." Last night more than 43,000 tickets for the visit of the European Cup finalists had already been sold. That figure could now swell to the stadium's 48,000 capacity on the news that Quinn wants to buy the club, and will be present at the match. And the Echo understands that England manager Sven Goran- Erikkson could also be enjoying the party atmosphere at the match as a guest of the club. Murray and Quinn have been talking for nine months about a possible £16m deal, and the Chairman is sure that Quinn is the right man to take over the club. In their discussions, Murray said he highlighted that everything was in place at Sunderland, apart from the last part of the puzzle - getting Sunderland into the Premiership and keeping the club where it belongs. "We discussed the size of the club, its fantastic support, the brand, the stadium and the academy. Quinn and Murray have developed a family friendship during their ten-year aquaintance, and Murray says he has the utmost repsect for Quinn and his achievements. "Niall is very eloquent, cares deeply about the club and the people of Sunderland as I do. "I'm proud of what I've achieved here, I've done an awful lot in 20 years on the board ... it's all there for take-off. I've been a fan for 51 years, and I'm awesomely proud of what I've achieved in the past and in the past week." Tickets will still be available until the 5.15 kick-off on Monday. And two turnstiles will be open at the Stadium for cash payment. Chronology of Nial Quinn's takeover proposal * Bob Murray saw Nial Quinn socially in the summer of 2005 and Quinn asked if there was anything he could do to help Bob. Murray said he would get back to him * Murray asked the former striker if he would like to join the board of the SAFC Foundation as a Trustee alongside Steve Cram, Kate Adie, Lord David Puttnam and Tim Rice * Quinn accepted the invitation, and asked if it would help if he invested in the club. * Murray said that even an investment of £1m-£2m wouldn't change the long-term future of the club. The chairman advised Quinn to find the funds to buy the club from him. * The pair spoke again at Christmas, with Murray once again encouraging Quinn to form a consortium to buy the club - he made it clear he would be happy to step aside if Quinn was interested. * In February 2006, Quinn came back to Murray with his initial ideas of how he could take the club forward. Murray was supportive of this outline proposal, and Quinn went away to identify backers who would form a consortium. * Informal dialogue continued between the pair until yesterday when the club confirmed formal discussions were taking place. Source
plastic mackems in all seriousness though, hope you lot get yerselves sorted out. Just hope quinn and his consortium have the capital and time to take the club back up and keep it there.
they do the money available is said to be silly amounts. we're expected to get 20million pumped in straight away next season to get us straight back up there. 20million to spend in the championship is a good whack then we all watch with interest to see if the mega money is made available once back in the premiership. shall be an interesting few years!
Yeah, from what I've heard JP McManus is involved in the consortium (the former Man Utd shareholder). If they have that kind of capital then they may be able to make a real difference.
anyone else wondering why sven is a guest of the club too??!? could there be something sneaky going on and they are gonna announce HIM as manager rather than MON?!?!
It would be a dream to work for it all to work out but remember when x-Man City player Franny Lee took over Citeh
