---
title: "Sunderland: Alan Nixon believes owners’ valuation is delaying sale of the club by Stewart Donald"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-alan-nixon-comments-stewart-donald-sale-delays/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "Sunderland News"
published: "2020-05-29T16:20:38Z"
modified: "2020-05-29T16:20:38Z"
---

# Sunderland: Alan Nixon believes owners’ valuation is delaying sale of the club by Stewart Donald

**Journalist Alan Nixon has [discussed](https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1265787290766512130) the reasons behind a delay in the sale of Sunderland, citing the valuation of the club as the problem.**

It has been no secret that current owner Stewart Donald has been keen to sell the club, [announcing his intentions back in December](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/latest-sunderland-afc-news/stewart-donald-sell-sunderland-what-we-know-major-questions-and-what-comes-next-1352136) just 18 months after purchasing it from former owner Ellis Short. After holding [meetings](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-04/sunderland-is-said-to-seek-52-million-in-u-k-soccer-team-sale) with several interested parties who have shown an interest in taking over the club, a deal is yet to hit an advanced stage with any potential buyers.

With June now around the corner, former executive chairman Charlie Methven’s [prediction](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/its-very-messy-finance-expert-reveals-exactly-what-sunderlands-ps205m-financial-hole-means-club-and-takeover-2847843) of a sale in May looks highly unlikely, with Madrox Partners, the holding company used by Donald, [claiming](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderlands-owners-respond-echo-questions-ps205m-parachute-payment-write-juan-sartori-and-proposed-club-sale-2849230) that it would be impossible to put a timescale on such a sale.

Now, [according to reputable journalist Nixon](https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1265787290766512130), a deal has stalled because of the current owners’ valuation of the club, hinting that a ‘new auction’ attempt would commence in the coming weeks.

Documented via Netflix series *Sunderland Til I Die*, Donald’s time in charge of the Black Cats has been [much criticised](https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/05/twitter/sunderland-fans-criticise-stewart-donald-in-response-to-alleged-jon-mclaughlin-transfer-news/), having failed to gain promotion to the Championship last term, losing to Charlton Athletic in the League One play-off final.

Sunderland are eagerly anticipating the outcome of the current League One season, which is [set to go to a vote](https://www.efl.com/news/2020/may/efl-statement-coronavirus-update2) after being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sitting seventh in the table as things stand, the Wearside club face missing out on a chance of promotion again.

The sooner Donald is out of the club, it seems the better, or at least that is what [some fans think](https://talksport.com/football/efl/694073/sunderland-owner-stewart-donald-sell/). The owner was seen on the Netflix series displaying a real passion to get the club back to the Premier League, but it seems his initial drive has been lost and many fans may be hoping a new owner can sustain that sort of passion for a longer period than just over a year.

***How much do you think Sunderland as a club is worth? Let us know in the comments section below…***