Sunderland co-owners buy former chairman Stewart Donald’s remaining shares

By Sports Desk May 27, 2023

Sunderland co-owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori have increased their respective stakes in the club and now own 100 per cent of the shares between them.

The Black Cats have announced chairman Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori have bought the remaining shares held by former Sunderland owner Stewart Donald.

A club statement read: “Sunderland AFC today announces that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has increased his shareholding in the club.

“Mr Louis-Dreyfus has increased his stake to 64 per cent, with Juan Sartori increasing his stake to 36 per cent.

“The shares have been acquired through the purchase of shares previously held by Stewart Donald, who has now exited the club’s shareholder group entirely. SAFC’s board of directors remains unchanged.”

Louis-Dreyfus, the son of former Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus,  became the youngest English Football League chairman when his takeover at the Stadium of Light was approved in February 2021.

He increased his shareholding in the club to 51 per cent in June last year, with Sartori increasing his to 30 per cent and they have now acquired Donald’s remaining 19 per cent.

Related items

  • Tuchel wants Bayern to discover their 'inner child' against Real Madrid Tuchel wants Bayern to discover their 'inner child' against Real Madrid

    Thomas Tuchel wants his Bayern Munich side to rediscover their inner child when they take on Real Madrid on Wednesday.

    After last week's 2-2 draw in Munich, Bayern will have to beat Madrid in their own back yard if they are to reach the Champions League final at Wembley.

    With Bayer Leverkusen ending Bayern's 11-year Bundesliga dominance by securing the league title last month, the six-time European Cup winners have only one trophy left to fight for this season.

    Tuchel spent several minutes talking to his players in an empty Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday and said that he told them they needed to find extra motivation within themselves.

    "It is important to connect with your own inner child. When we were little we played these games in the garden. So now we are here and that's our chance to make it true," he told reporters.

    "I think both teams have to endure defending and suffering when their opponents have the ball. It is extremely difficult to steal the ball from Real Madrid. Both teams are very, very strong in the transition game. It gets very complex. You need luck and precision. Then everything is possible at this stage."

    Bayern were undone by Vinicius Junior's double in the first leg, with the Brazil forward scoring either side of efforts from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane.

    However, Opta's win predictor has Madrid as 48.5 per cent favourites to claim the victory they need to progress.

    Madrid, the record 14-time European champions, have an aura in the competition, but Tuchel said the Spaniards' record holds no fear for his side.

    "Bayern are also one of the most successful and dominant clubs in the world and we have an obligation to do our best when we step on the pitch tomorrow," he said.

    "You don't talk about myths, that would make it harder for us. It is already one of the toughest stadiums to win but not impossible. We are not here to enjoy the moment."

    Bayern reached the Champions League's last four for the first time since winning the competition in 2020, while Madrid last lifted the trophy in 2022 with an amazing run of comeback wins at home to reach the final.

    Carlo Ancelotti's team are bidding to win their sixth Champions League title in 10 years, having clinched a record-extending 36th LaLiga crown on Saturday.

    The Bavarians, however, have endured a disappointing domestic run and Tuchel will exit at the end of the season.

    "Real Madrid are an amazing team but we need to be confident in ourselves and help each other, we can't be stuck or afraid. We need to make something positive from the pressure," Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.

    "Against a team like Real Madrid, it's the little things that matter. Nobody wants to make a mistake because both teams have very good offensive power."

  • Everton shareholders demand a decision on takeover Everton shareholders demand a decision on takeover

    Everton shareholders have urged Farhad Moshiri and the Premier League to make a decision on the future of the club.

    The Toffees, who have been hit with two separate points deductions this season due to previous financial discrepancies, secured their Premier League status in April by beating Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford in the space of six days.

    However, Everton remain in turmoil off the pitch, with majority shareholder Moshiri wanting out. He is aiming to sell the club to 777 Partners, a Miami-based investment firm that has stakes in several other clubs, including Genoa and Standard Liege.

    There is no lack of controversy surrounding 777, though, and their co-founders Josh Wander and Steve Pasko.

    It has been close to eight months since Moshiri confirmed his intention to sell his 94.1 per cent stake in Everton to 777, but so far the group has been unable to pass the Premier League's Owners' and Directors test.

    While 777 has pumped over £200million into Everton to fund the day-to-day running of the club, it has now the subject of multiple lawsuits.

    One of these lawsuits is by Leadenhall Capital Partners LLP and Leadenhall Life Insurance Linked Investments Fund plc, in New York.

    Leadenhall claims Pasko and Wander "are operating a giant shell game at best, and an outright Ponzi scheme at worst".

    On Tuesday, Everton's shareholders released a statement condemning the situation.

    The statement read: "We are the oldest shareholders’ association in the world and are dismayed by the lack of respect being shown to our football club by the largest shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, and the Premier League during what seems a never-ending change of ownership process.

    "We have observed with concern and frustration as it became increasingly clear that a fit-for-purpose process cannot possibly take this long as the Premier League continues to demonstrate their inability to regulate.

    "In the absence of the Premier League ­making a timely decision we insist that the Everton board, and Farhad Moshiri in particular, stop this ­damaging process now and ­recognise that 777 Partners are not at this time fit-and-proper ­­prospective ­owners of Everton Football Club.

    "The ­powers that be are being ­disrespectful to our fellow ­shareholders, our ­fantastic ­worldwide fanbase and football as a whole by continuing to allow this farce to continue. We demand a ­decision and we demand it now."

    Everton face Sheffield United on Saturday before rounding out their season with a trip to Arsenal.

  • Liam Rosenior departs Hull City after 18 months in charge Liam Rosenior departs Hull City after 18 months in charge

    Hull City have parted company with head coach Liam Rosenior with immediate effect.

    Rosenior departs the MKM Stadium after 18 months in charge of the Tigers, who narrowly missed out on the Championship playoffs this season.

    Hull were one point above the relegation zone when the former Derby County assistant succeeded Shota Arveladze in November 2022, but he guided them to safety in 15th place.

    Rosenior signed a new three-year deal in December and oversaw just one defeat in Hull’s last seven games of this season, in which they finished seventh and just three points behind sixth-place Norwich City.

    "This has been the most difficult decision I have had to make as chairman of this wonderful football club," said chairman and owner Acun Ilicali.

    "Since Liam’s arrival, we have enjoyed an open working relationship and progress has undoubtedly been made over the course of his tenure. He will always be a part of this family and I thank him for all his work.

    "However, it has become evident that our visions for the future are not aligned, and I feel that now is the time to make a change. I know what this football club can achieve, and we will not stop in the pursuit of that.

    "We have worked hard over the last two years to develop our squad. We now have many highly talented players at our disposal, and we will continue to invest and improve our playing personnel to give this club and its fans the success they deserve."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.