Finance guru: Madrox could still be making ‘big’ decisions at Sunderland after details emerge
The Madrox regime could still be making the very biggest decisions at Sunderland.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the ownership structure at the Stadium of Light.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus took over from Stewart Donald-fronted Madrox in February last year.
But The Athletic reported last Tuesday (15 February) that the 23-year-old has now admitted he owns just 41 per cent of the League One club.
Madrox top brass Donald, Juan Sartori, and Charlie Methven meanwhile are understood to own 34 per cent, 20 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.
Sunderland CEO Steve Davison has now said he is optimistic that a deal can be reached with Donald and Methven for their shares, per the Shields Gazette last Friday (18 February).
But Plumley insists that it is still possible that the old regime could be pulling the strings behind the scenes in the meantime.
“It’s a significant stake but it doesn’t give you overall control,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“The Madrox collective still own the bulk of the club. You ask who is making those big decisions and it is the overall shareholder who gets the final say.
“If there are any conflicts of interests or things that can’t be agreed on, you have to go down the route of majority shareholders. That isn’t Louis-Dreyfus.
“There may be instances where he has to defer to them if they are acting as a collective. It gives him another hurdle to jump to get stuff done.”
The drama around the Black Cats’ ownership comes amid a nosedive in results.
Sunderland are down to 7th in League One and have not won in five matches.
In other news, Kevin Phillips issues “100 per cent” Sunderland claim after chairman’s Jonson Clarke-Harris reveal.