(Photo credit: REUTERS/LEE SMITH)
The Black Cats have endured two of probably the worst years in football history. David Moyes succeeded Sam Allardyce and guided the club to hapless relegation.
That was followed by the appointment of Simon Grayson who won just one of his 18 league games.
And then the club put all their eggs in former Wales boss Chris Coleman’s basket - a second straight last place finish followed and the club will spend next season in England’s third tier for the second time in their history.
Ellis Short has commendably left the club debt free and the new owner Stewart Donald has a chance to turn this shell into the great club we all know it can be.
Here are the five things Sunderland’s new owners must do: