Kyril Louis-Dreyfus hailed as Sunderland agree behind-the-scenes deal
Sunderland’s latest financial move behind-the-scenes is nothing for the supporters to worry about.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after Sunderland took out a loan from Macquarie Bank.
Sunderland have enjoyed a successful first season back in the Premier League after eight years outside the top flight.
Whilst the Black Cats’ hopes of European football have faded, they remain 11 points above the relegation zone in 12th place.
Sunderland loan ‘nothing unusual’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Sunderland may have agreed a better interest rate for their loan due to their safe Premier League position.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states the loan is “business as usual” for the club as he hailed club owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It means nothing really. They’ve got a couple of debts. I think they did the Macquarie loan before and this is just extending it further.
“They obviously felt they could do it now because they feel safe from relegation, which I think they are. I think everybody would accept the fact they are. So they’ve extended it through to next summer, from what I understand.
“Many clubs do this sort of thing of advancing monies against future revenue streams. Also, I think that the parent company with Louis-Dreyfus also has a lot of debt to Sunderland, but they’ve also said they’re going to put that into equity.
“So I don’t think there’s any issue about the owners backing the club. This is just a prudent way to run your cash flow. And as I say, many clubs have done it in the past, so nothing unusual.
“And the fact they’ve got the security of not being in a relegation battle, it has probably allowed them to get a more successful interest rate than they would have had to if they’d been in that relegation battle. So overall, just business as usual, no big deal.”
Sunderland announce injury worry
Sunderland’s hopes of a strong end to the season have taken a blow following an injury to striker Brian Brobbey.
Brobbey will miss the next two to three weeks on the sidelines, meaning the 24-year-old is unlikely to play again before the next international break at the end of March.
The Dutchman has become the number one striker under Regis Le Bris lately, and has scored five goals in his debut Premier League campaign so far.