---
title: "Sunderland: Phil Smith discusses Mark Campbell’s potential takeover"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-phil-smith-scepticism-mark-campbell-takeover-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "League One News"
published: "2020-07-16T09:50:54Z"
modified: "2020-07-16T09:50:54Z"
---

# Sunderland: Phil Smith discusses Mark Campbell’s potential takeover

**[Sunderland Echo](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/phil-smiths-sunderland-afc-qa-mark-campbell-bailey-wright-and-league-one-restart-date-under-spotlight-2914175) journalist Phil Smith has given his thoughts on a potential takeover from businessman Mark Campbell at Sunderland.**

The Wearsiders’ downfall from the Premier League to League One has been widely documented over the last few years, having been at the centre of [Netflix series *Sunderland Til I Die*.](https://www.netflix.com/title/80207046)

Current owner Stewart Donald played a large part in the series, with fans able to see his running of the club up close and personal, but the businessman has [come under much criticism](https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/destroying-the-club-keep-digging-for-the-truth-these-sunderland-fans-react-to-latest-stewart-donald-financial-claim/) after sensationally revealing that he wanted to sell the club after [just 19 months.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/50955375)

Some takeover interest has emerged despite the club’s failure to gain promotion to the Championship for a second successive season.

Chinese businessman Sammy Yu has been credited with interest, although he recently revealed that multiple attempts to make contact with Donald fell on deaf ears (as per [Sunderland Echo](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sammy-yu-confirms-takeover-interest-why-hes-unlikely-take-charge-sunderland-2911778)).

Another name linked with a potential takeover of the club is Campbell, an entrepreneur on whom [Sunderland Echo](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/mark-campbell-monitoring-sunderland-situation-no-takeover-deal-close-2913537) have recently provided an update.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Rreal estate businessman Campbell is now said to be ‘monitoring the situation’ at the Stadium of Light, having had a previous talks with Donald over a deal last summer [which included a visit to the club’s training ground.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/mark-campbell-monitoring-sunderland-situation-no-takeover-deal-close-2913537)

Smith, who writes regularly about Sunderland, was taking part in a weekly [Question and Answer session](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/phil-smiths-sunderland-afc-qa-mark-campbell-bailey-wright-and-league-one-restart-date-under-spotlight-2914175) with fans of the club and was asked: *“Mark Campbell’s name has been brought up again. What’s happening?”,* to which he replied:

*“It’s a very strange one.*

*“The collapse of the deal was so damaging last time around that my assumption was that would be the end of that.*

*“It’s also fair to say that it leaves all who saw how that developed with major reservations about the capacity to do a deal and take the club forward.*

*“However, it’s abundantly clear that he is very keen to get into football and that he still sees Sunderland as an opportunity to do exactly that.*

*“The club’s view is that they cannot comment having previously signed an NDA (last year).*

*“There is a good deal of scepticism and that’s worth noting, but I can also understand why that isn’t overly reassuring for supporters who are hugely concerned about the way the club is headed.*

*“Particularly given that Stewart Donald said himself last summer that Campbell was not the man to take Sunderland on (which raised the very obvious Q of why has this not gone away?)*

*“We’ve said it a lot and it’s worth saying again, it’s time for change at Sunderland but it is absolutely imperative that the sale brings about a period of clarity, security and stability.*

*“Everybody is concerned about where we are headed, and the club could do more to put fans in the picture properly.”*

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Sunderland, who are now approaching the [200-day mark](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/mark-campbell-monitoring-sunderland-situation-no-takeover-deal-close-2913537) of being up for sale, are currently preparing for a third successive season in League One.

Donald needs to sell and someone needs to buy; and if two potential owners are interested (Yu and Campbell), then he should go all-out to strike a deal and cut his losses.

Smith is sceptical over Campbell’s potential takeover, but some might wonder whether he could really be worse than the [much-maligned Donald](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/sunderland-fans-no-longer-believe-clubs-word/).

***Do you think Campbell would be a good owner for Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below…***