Roker Roundup: Owner Stewart Donald confirms he received offer to sell Sunderland LAST WEEK

Donald confirms interest

Sunderland owner Stewart Donald was on BBC Radio Newcastle’s Total Sport last night and during the show he revealed that he recently received an offer to sell the club.

According to Donald, he received interest in the club as recently as last week after a potential investor caught an episode of the Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die in a hotel in Mexico.

Donald then discussed how he believes Sunderland are now an attractive proposition for not just investors but also fans and players too:

I had one, funnily enough, 10 days ago.

Somebody said the first he had seen of us was in a bar in Mexico, in his hotel, where he had come down in the morning for breakfast and Sunderland ‘Til I Die was on.

He liked the programme and he was interested in a football club, “any chance we’re for sale?”

The thing is, Sunderland is always going to attract interest because it is a huge football club and if you look at the big football clubs in this country, most of them are tied up and very difficult.

Whereas, if you look at Sunderland, Sunderland will be perceived as one that’s great value for money, easily attainable some people would say in relation to a Man Utd or a Man City.

It’s a huge, huge club. So it’s always going to attract interest and then when you throw Netflix on the top of it and you show the passion of the place, then I think anybody that wants a football club would look at Sunderland.

Then of course because we’re turning round and we’ve got some momentum, that makes us even more attractive.

I think at the moment, Sunderland would - it always is but especially with Netflix and how we’re doing, even though we’re down in League One - I think we look ever such an attract proposition.

Which is great because that’s not just investors but that’s players, that’s coaches and that’s everybody.

Sunderland, I hope and feel, have a really good vibe about it and that’s attracting everybody from all over the place, whether it’s fans, players or investors.

You can listen to the Total Sport episode that features Stewart Donald on the BBC Newcastle website HERE.

Sky Sports

Loanee ruled out for the season

Sunderland youngster Elliot Embleton has been ruled out for the rest of the reason after sustaining a grade three hamstring tear.

The midfielder is on-loan at League Two Grimsby Town, where he has shone for the Mariners this season but will be unable to play again this season after picking up an injury playing for England under-20s in their loss to Poland last week.

Embleton had been forced to withdraw from the England squad following the injury and after returning to his club, a scan confirmed the injury that will prevent him adding to his 30 appearances in all competitions for his loan club.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

Academy youngster signs for Leeds

Sunderland academy midfielder Morten Spencer has left the Academy of Light and signed a contract with Championship outfit Leeds United.

Spencer had recently been linked with moves to his home town club of Middlesbrough and also Manchester City but will instead join Leeds’ Category 2 academy.

The England under-15 international, who also qualifies for Norway, announced the move on Instagram, saying:

Absolutely delighted to sign my first contract with Leeds United! Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. Hard work starts now!