ITHICS Fanzine: It might just be that, for Sunderland, the hope is finally being realised!

This is what it’s like to have owners who crack on with the job in hand as soon as they take over. Bain gone... new manager in... old coaching staff gone... old players starting to go... silly offers for players being turned away... streaming of all first team games from next season... and attempting to save the women’s team.

They are doing what they said at the outset - it’s what we as fans have been craving for years. The new regime is up and rocking, and we’re loving it.

They are listening to the fans and acting upon it. Season ticket sales have bounced since the new owners took over - we haven’t had queues snaking out of the ticket office since the play-off semi final with Sheffield United in 1998!

Even the curmudgeonly Blackcats Facebook group were begrudgingly showing approval in some of its comments - though one poster’s annoyance at the length of the takeover process still has me chuckling.

It’s definitely a case of out with the old, and (hopefully) in with the new.

Jack Ross has removed much of the old guard in the little time he has been here. Many of the old coaching staff have gone, and John O’Shea has also finally departed after we decided not to offer him a new contract. Great pro, though he was, there’s no point in hanging around for some figurehead role.

The new owners have certainly been as good as their word so far, and it’s refreshing to see it happening finally to our club. With these owners, we’re not going to be pushovers.

Photo by Steve Drew - EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

The fans can once again be proud of their club. It’s going to be fun watching each new event unfold and it’s refreshing to have such transparent owners - something which has come as a bit of a surprise.

I keep expecting someone to pop up, shouting “surprise, you didn’t think we’d let you get away with that, did you?” Well... apparently they have, and we’re loving it.

So here is the inevitable word of caution - don’t get your hopes up too high. Why? Because we’re Sunderland and are used to being kicked in the goolies. But - but - on this occasion, it might just be the hope which is actually being realised.