Sunderland chairman Ellis Short hits back at spending criticism

Furious Sunderland owner Ellis Short has defended his stewardship of the club, saying he has invested more than all of his predecessors combined, and demanding an apology from former player Michael Gray for accusing him of lying.

Ex-Sunderland defender Michael Gray, who made 363 appearances at the Stadium of Light, also claimed that Short had lied to fans and failed to deliver what had been promised in terms of transfer funds.

But Advocaat accepts Sunderland are operating on a limited budget and says Short is not to blame for that after the owner has seen millions squandered by previous regimes, with the club still paying instalments on transfers from the last couple of years.

Despite tempting back last season’s hero Dick Advocaat to take charge on a permanent basis, Sunderland have not starting the campaign on a positive note and have lost both their Premier League matches so far.

“I normally don’t respond to criticism, but based on some recent comments, I feel that there are some points I need to address for the benefit of the fans”, the chairman said.

“That ambition definitely has not been realised but, nevertheless it doesn’t imply that I don’t have it”.

“The assertion that I have been unwilling to spend money to fulfil the ambitions of the club and its fans is completely wrong”.

“Each penny that comes from TV cash and different business actions is spent on working the membership – that’s, shopping for gamers, wages, and different related prices”.

“The word I should have used is broken promises”, said Gray on the Colin Murray show on Monday.

Now if we get the three players in he was asking for after Saturday’s game against Swansea, I will hold my hands up. The truth is, I’ve funded vital shortfalls each season.

“I’ve achieved this willingly as a result of I would like us to be greater than a membership that merely exists within the prime flight”.

He says Sunderland have managed nine consecutive seasons in the Premier League because of his support.

“The unsafe information is, for that sum of money spent, we ought to be higher than we’re and no-one is aware of that greater than me”.

“Has the money been spent wisely?”

“‘To date, this summer we have committed £21.5million in transfer fees, including the mandatory purchase of Santiago Vergini, and remain hopeful there is still more business to be done before the window closes on September 1”. No – that much is clear and ultimately that is my fault. Our beloved team were easy pickings for the media, who love nothing more than a big club doing badly, as it gives the opportunity for the situation to be referred to as a crisis.