Roker Roundup: Stewart Donald gives fans update on contract situations of Sunderland youngsters

Update expected on contracts

Sunderland are still waiting to agree new deals with Lynden Gooch and Josh Maja, despite the duo being offered new contracts.

The academy products are both out of contract at the end of the season and despite the club being hopeful that they will agree to new deals, the January transfer window is just one month away and the youngsters would be allowed to sign pre-contract deals with foreign clubs from next month.

With that in mind, Stewart Donald responded to a fan on Twitter who had asked whether there had been any updates on the duo and Donald revealed that they expect to give an update in the next week or so:

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Sartori confirms Presidential ambitions

Juan Sartori has finally confirmed that he intends to run as President of Uruguay under the banner of the National Party.

Sartori met with the chair of the board of the party yesterday afternoon, in a meeting which last an hour and a half. Afterwards he called the meeting excellent and confirmed his political ambitions, which he will undertake as part of the ‘Todo Por El Pueblo’ group of the National Party:

We have come to formalize the group Todos por el Pueblo, which has come to propose me to the presidency.

We talked about how we see this campaign and how we will now make the National Party, with all its strength, all the energy of the whole world, united, and with people to add, approach this new year with the desire to campaign, to win and be a government.

The businessman was asked about criticism he has received in recent weeks, including suggestions from the president of the Uruguayan house of representatives Jorge Gandini that he should go through the ethics commission immediately, however he declined to answer and instead called for unity within the National Party:

Unity is very important and we make every effort. Without a united party where everyone adds up there is no chance of victory.

Sartori will officially announce his candidacy at a public event at the Metro Theatre in Montevideo on Tuesday.

New role for Bramble

Since retiring from playing, Titus Bramble has been coaching in the youth set-up at Ipswich Town as he works with the club’s under-16s and was also recently invited to attend an England under-20 camp which featured Sunderland’s Elliot Embleton.

The former Sunderland defender has now travelled to Ghana to work with Ghanaian Premier League side Hearts of Oak as a defensive coach as the club look to improve their defensive play ahead of the new season.

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