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The improving image of Sunderland AFC. New kit revealed

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Order from the club by clicking the image
Malcolm Dawson, deputy editor, writes……..Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven appear to be men of their word. OK Charlie is a professional PR guru so we’d expect him to be good at his job, but so far the new owners are delivering:

* a new manager who seems to be developing a positive work ethic and has promised an entertaining style of football

* new signings within budget who are all speaking highly about Sunderland AFC and their delight at coming to Wearside

* players who do not wish to buy into the club’s future given short shrift with a promise that the club will not be taken for a ride by players and their agents

* the beginning of the replacement of the pink seats, an increasing involvement of the fans, an acknowledgement that supporters are the club and a repairing of that damaged relationship.

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Sixer makes a good weekend better, calling Harry Maguire today’s Charlie Hurley

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Pete Sixsmith

Jack Rodwell has gone, that’s a fact, and rumours abound that Whabi Khazri’s on his way out, with  a decent wedge coming through the revolving door in return. Over in Russia our local boys continue to do good, drawing praise from Alan Shearer and earning the club that taught them everything at least a few more thousands, money which presumably won’t be squandered on absent players. The  SOL is getting new seats and the weather remains brilliant.

So how could the weekend improve?

With a post from Pete Sixsmith, that’s how:

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New club sponsor. And he’s a supporter

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Tom Sloanes, commercial director, BETDAQ [left] and Tony Davison, managing director, Sunderland AFC

Salut! Sunderland has had, broadly, amicable relations with Sunderland AFC. It could have been better, it could have been worse.

Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven give the impression of wanting such relations to grow stronger, not weaker. That goes for the mainstream media as well as for the fan sites, big and small.

We are unlikely to see a repeat of the insane Ellis Short line that the media is to blame for misrepresenting him and his actions and/or intentions when the same man admitted he never spoke to the media.

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Sunderland AFC and me: how I’ve been brought back from the brink

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Monsieur Salut writes: I often envy the lifestyles of Pete Sixsmith and Malcolm Dawson, enjoying the North East without any longer the need to do much work – though both, in their own ways, remain active – and free to pop along to any match they choose. Then I read their accounts of afternoons or evenings wasted watching SAFC and, remembering too many similar experiences from my own life, start to feel a lot less envious.

Sunderland games have not always been Malcolm’s first choice in recent times. But he has stuck by the team through thin and thinner and is now encouraged by the new regime. He describes his return from the brink quite magnificently. Please read on …

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Robson Report: England and Sunderland’s Jordans and loyalty, that rare and elusive thing

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Jeremy Robson

“The loyalty, well held to fools, does make Our faith mere folly”,  said Shakespeare in Anthony and Cleopatra.

Could those words be applied to us? Has our loyalty made fools of us? And of those few players who have kept faith with the club?

It has been a while since Jeremy Robson appeared on these pages. It’s good to see him back and, as ever, he produces not only a good read but also a thought provoking article.

But does he answer those questions? You’ll have to read on and decide for yourselves…

ps: John McCormick prepared this article for publication and wrote his introduction before two of the players mentioned by Jeremy featured in England’s World Cup win on penalties against Colombia. Jordan Henderson was nearly the shoot-out villain, missing his penalty, but otherwise had a fine, all-action match. Jordan Pickford, of course, was the hero with that stunning save. Our friend Barry Emmerson, who knows JP well as his occasional chauffeur, reacts: ‘My pal Jordan the hero. Drove him down to St George’s before they left for Russia. He is a super confident lad and I am always saying to him, “stand still for penalties, don’t dive first”. Well for the save he did that, I’m taking all the credit. He is going to be a giant of the game, maybe Real Madrid one day.’

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In conversation with Charlie Methven: (4) what is the least Sunderland should expect?

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Can we keep the faith?

It is time to conclude our series based on (mainly) electronic conversations between Salut! Sunderland writers and Charlie Methven, executive director of the club and a minority shareholder.

We thank Charlie for his time and full, diligent responses. Not every Sunderland supporter is yet convinced, either that the takeover from Ellis Short leaves Stewart Donald, Charlie and their team in a strong financial position or that bargain acquisitions from Scotland will win us League One.

We will see. For now, the right noises are being made and the level of communication between club and fans is healthier than in the past, possibly healthier than at any time in the history of Sunderland AFC.

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In conversation with Charlie Methven: (3) ‘missing out on promotion would be a failure’

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Our question-and-answer discussions with Sunderland’s executive director, Charlie Methven, continues with a series of detailed points put to him by Salut! Sunderland‘s deputy editor, Malcolm Dawson. I called Malcolm’s efforts speeches followed by questions, Charlie thought “lectures” the more appropriate description while appreciating the depth of his thinking.

And each ends with a highly pertinent question. Let the pair of them speak for themselves (and see the series in full at this link). Many thanks to all the readers who came here yesterday to see what Charlie had to say; we wish only that a few more had also taken the trouble to put their own views across or respond to
his comments …

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Welcome to Sunderland, Dylan McGeouch, Reece James and Jordan Hunter

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Update: there is also news on possible and thoroughly welcome departures . Neither Papy Djilobodji nor Didier Ndong reported back for duty as expected – and, presumably, contracted – so while they or their agents hawk their services around other clubs, SAFC can perhaps save a little money by fining them each two weeks’ wages for any indiscipline that cannot be explained by the need to visit sick aunts. Lamine Kone was also absent from the team’s training camp trip to Portugal, also having no wish to prolong his stay at Sunderland, though he did at least make it back to Wearside. Which of them, in all honesty, will be missed?

The day started with a great series of questions and answers with Charlie Methven – check it out here and for the next two days – and now we have news of further signings.

It began with news of the arrival of the Scottish international and former Hibs midfielder Dylan McGeouch and, for Elliott Dickman’s Under 23 squad, Jordan Hunter, on a free from Liverpool. And it continued – see below – with the announcement of another import, defender Reece James from Wigan.

For now, let safc.com tell the story:

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