Sunderland: 'The sooner the better' - Fresh Louis-Dreyfus claim emerges

Sunderland must quickly get their supporters back onside after misleading them over who owns the majority of the Black Cats’ shares, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

It comes after it was revealed that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus does not boast the majority of the League One promotion chasers’ assets despite initially insisting the 25-year-old did.

Sunderland announced that Louis-Dreyfus had acquired a controlling interest in the club 13 months ago, signalling the start of a new era at the Stadium of Light.

However, that is not the case as The Athletic have revealed he owns just a 41 per cent stake in the Wearsiders and the previous owners – Madrox group – still boast the majority of the club’s shares.

The report suggests Stewart Donald still holds 34 per cent of the club’s assets, while Juan Sartori and Charlie Methven have retained 20 per cent and five per cent respectively.

Sunderland fans reacted to the revelations with fury and it led to claims that ‘a large amount of trust and goodwill’ has disappeared.

Donald and Methven have confirmed they are willing to sell their stakes in the club, making it possible for Louis-Dreyfus to own the majority of the Black Cats’ assets.

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Methven has revealed he and Donald are seeking £11.7million if Louis-Dreyfus is interested in clinching the shares they still own.

Donald has told BBC Radio Solent, via The Portsmouth News, he would be open to returning to non-league side Eastleigh, who he previously owned, if he is able to ‘organise myself and Sunderland in a way that works for everybody and frees me up to go back and finish the job that I started all those years ago’.

O’Rourke believes