Sunderland Takeover Near

Ellis Short, the American businessman, could complete a full takeover of Sunderland by the summer of 2010. The president of Lone Star Funds, a Dallas-based private equity firm, already owns a substantial stake in the club and has an agreement in place to purchase the rest of the shares held by the predominantly Irish Drumaville Corporation. The American, an intensely private individual, has been in effective control of Sunderland for a number of months.

Ellis Short, the American businessman, could complete a full takeover of Sunderland by the summer of 2010. The president of Lone Star Funds, a Dallas-based private equity firm, already owns a substantial stake in the club and has an agreement in place to purchase the rest of the shares held by the predominantly Irish Drumaville Corporation. The American, an intensely private individual, has been in effective control of Sunderland for a number of months. His arrival was well timed, not only because of the strength of the dollar, but also because the financial crisis has hit Ireland particularly hard. When Short does take outright charge, the club will become the fourth in the Barclays Premiership to be wholly American-owned after Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United. Newcastle United, who are up for sale, have also recently been in negotiations with two-US based consortiums.