Q: What are your thoughts and feelings having learned of the impending ownership takeover at SAFC?

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Craig Davies says...

There are some fans, some I know well, who have consistently fed the beast of careless whispers.

They’ve perpetuated the persistent rumour that Donald and Methven were short term snake-oil salesmen, who picked up the club for next to nothing, hoping to make a quick buck from a club they’ve zero connection to and walk away into a yacht infused sunset - never to think of us again. They’ve accused them of lying about finances, their own personal commitment and of suspicious malpractice when they purchased the club. But the reality, at least in my eyes is quite different.

If this proposed take over is completed by this very serious group of billionaire investors it won’t matter a dot to me whether or not Donald and Charlie have made a few quid in the deal.

They’ll deserve the freedom of the city! When they took over, we were terrible on and off the field. We were hopelessly led, horribly ran and were slipping almost uncontrollably into footballing oblivion in terms of fiscal business and squad development.

If the takeover is completed and our current ownership team remain on he board to manage the club day to day, you have to say they’ve turned the club around 360 degrees and have a falling giant back on its feet and stabilising itself for another crack at becoming more than the sum of our parts.

A friend of mine who has a successful tech business and his own well-followed podcast for those in the industry of software and tech development, by quirk of coincidence, did a podcast a couple of years ago about Dell and MSD Partners and their investment in startup tech firms and Silicon Valley. He knows how they operate and how they generally build up their investments. He’s a lads fan to boot and he’s delighted they’re coming on board. MSD Partners are known to spend big on investments and develop them slowly- not to generate quick turn around profit and then cut ties, but to structurally develop their investments in long term and sustainable ways, ensuring business links and continued profitability for years to come. It appears they’re serious investors who come to win, but recognise that to generate profit, initial and strong investment is a must.

So this news has to be welcomed and celebrated. But if they can deliver sustainable structure that builds a powerful foundation for years to come, then the club, the fans, the region and MSD partners themselves, will all be winners.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Phil West says...

It’s extremely difficult not to let the imagination run wild with thoughts of fantasy signings and where we might find ourselves in five or six years time, with this heavyweight investment coming into the club. After some very turbulent and painful times over the past few years, we finally seem to have some genuine cause for optimism, and that’s to be welcomed.

That being said, I still think it’s very important that these investors are sensible, savvy, and don’t throw their money around like there’s no tomorrow. Stewart Donald has done sterling work in order to get the club back onto an even keel, in all areas, and it will be exceptionally important that we continue in that vein if we want to achieve success in the future. Judging by what we know about these guys, they’re serious players, and logic dictates that they’re going to run our club properly, with a good mixture of investment in the required areas, but not to the point of recklessness.

It’s also important that we don’t lose sight of where we are right now. We are still going to be a League One club, albeit a League One club with some serious financial muscle, and promotion must remain very firmly in our sights. Let’s harness the positivity that new investment will bring, try to channel that into our on-field performances, and be relentless in our quest to reach the Championship.

Overall, this is a very positive development. As a Sunderland fan I want to feel excited and upbeat about the future of our club, and assuming the takeover progresses with no hitches, we’ll all be tapping into those feelings in the not too distant future!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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David Holloway says...

The first thought that comes to mind when thinking about the new owners is wow - is this really happening to us? To Sunderland?

This week’s news has been dominated by the plight of Bury and Bolton, and there but for the grace of god go we.

Fifteen months ago we were facing the abyss. Without Stewart Donald would we have been facing administration? Who knows, but we were in a sick state.

We must firstly thank Stewart Donald for his work in restructuring the club and for Charlie Methven for challenging supporters to keep the faith.

It seems that we are now entering the next stage of our recovery. We are learning that seriously rich people are about to invest in our club. I hope that the fine work of Donald and Methven is built upon and we dont lose sight of what makes Sunderland such a great club.

Yes, we want transfer splurges and we may have the means to do it. But it must be sustainable spending and we must continue to build the academy and the links with the community.

Is that the American way? I hope so. Oh, and some class players to worship as well - that would be nice!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Sean Brown says...

Elated, extremely happy, joyful, excited, delighted, proud, cheered, thrilled, elevated, animated, roused, aroused, exhilarated, ecstatic, jubilant, joyous, over the moon, overjoyed, blissful, euphoric, gleeful, exultant, in high spirits, on cloud nine, cock-a-hoop, blissed out, in seventh heaven, walking on air, stoked... WA FOOKIN MINTED OW!

I’d like to thank the Collins dictionary for everything they’ve done for me.