 |
A consortium led by League Championship side Sunderland supporters is "ready to rival" a £50M ($63.7M) German takeover bid for the relegated club, according to Miguel Delaney of the London INDEPENDENT. Sunderland last week announced it was putting its "search for a new manager on the backburner as talks over a change in ownership became more serious." A German consortium held talks with Owner Ellis Short in London, with the American businessman looking for £90M ($114.6M) to sell the club. Another consortium "comprised of wealthy Sunderland fans" is also reportedly set to bid. TV execs Leo Pearlman, Gabe Turner and Ben Turner are leading a bid that is also "believed to count on the support" of former Arsenal defender Tony Adams and former Chelsea Business Affairs Dir Paul Smith. Adams, currently Spanish side Granada's sporting director, is "thought to have been offered a role in the new set-up." Pearlman and the Turner brothers are co-owners of production company Fulwell73, which takes its name from one of the stands at the old Roker Park stadium. The 73 refers to the club's 1973 FA Cup win, when it beat Leeds United at Wembley. A source said, "These guys are huge Sunderland fans and just want to help the club get back to where they should be in any way possible" (
INDEPENDENT, 6/19). The PA reported consortiums from China and the Middle East have "previously shown interest in taking over the club but failed to make formal offers" (
PA, 6/16).
