SAFC thanks loyal season ticket holders

Press release from Sunderland AFC:

SAFC thanks loyal season ticket holders

Sunderland Football Club has been overwhelmed by the loyalty and passion
of its season ticket holders this season. Mick McCarthy and the players
have stated on many occasions how magnificent Sunderland supporters are
and their importance in the Club's promotion battle.

The Club very much appreciates this support and would like to reward its
loyal season ticket holders. The Easter period is traditionally a time
when families come together and youngsters return home from school or
university and in keeping with its ethos as a family club, SAFC would
like to give season ticket holders the opportunity to bring family
members or friends to the Stadium of Light for the forthcoming Sheffield
United game.

Sunderland is giving all season ticket holders the chance to purchase 2
additional tickets for this top-of -the-table clash for only £15.

Black Cat's Boss Mick McCarthy believes the Sunderland fans are a vital
part of the teams push for promotion:

"Our supporters are truly magnificent - their passion and enthusiasm is
second to none. Sheffield United could be a vital game for us and to
see a packed Stadium of Light would be a tremendous boost for me and the
lads."

The game will take place on Friday 9th April 2004, 3:00pm kick off and
season ticket holders may purchase tickets from Monday 16th February,
using VOUCHER 29 from their season ticket books as follows:

* In person from the Stadium of Light Ticket Office
(Voucher 29 must be produced)

* By post, enclosing Voucher 29 completed on the reverse,
a cheque payable to Sunderland AFC for £15.00 or credit / debit card
details and a stamped self addressed envelope to
SHEFF, PO Box 165 , SUNDERLAND , SR5 1W

(This offer closes on 25th March 2004 and is subject to availability.)

Bracewell joins Saddlers

Former Sunderland midfielder Paul Bracewell has joined fellow Division One club Walsall as first team coach - with Sunderland due to play the Saddlers in less than two weeks.

Manager Colin Lee's assistant, Mick Halsall, has taken up a position as Head of Youth Coaching at the club at his own request.

Lee said, "Paul has a wealth of experience in the game, both as a player and as a coach, and his knowledge will be invaluable to us."

Bracewell himself said, "I can't wait to get stuck into the job - it's great to be back involved in day-to-day coaching."

Paul began his career as an apprentice at Stoke City, moving to Sunderland in the summer of 1983 for £250,000 - he stayed for a year, clocking up 44 appearances and scoring four times.

We then sold him on to Everton for £425,000 but five years later he was back; he stayed for three years until the summer of 1992 appearing 139 times, but left for Newcastle where he stayed until 1995 when he saw the light and returned to Sunderland. In his final spell with us he stayed for just over two years, putting in 89 appearances.

After that he went to Fulham, as a player initially then as assistant manager to Kevin Keegan, then as manager in his own right when Keegan left to manage England. He was replaced by Jean Tigana at Craven Cottage, and headed to Halifax where he was in charge for 10 months.

SAFC secures refinancing package

Sunderland plc's cash worries seem to be a little less onerous this morning with the announcement that they have secured a vital refinancing package.

The club has successfully completed negotiations with Barclays and Lombard for two £14m loan facilities repayable over seven years.

Under the agreement, Barclays will convert part of the club's existing overdraft to loan funding; Lombard have agreed to increase the level of funding they provide, and also to increase the repayment period of the club's existing loans.

But that doesn't mark the end of the process - the club says it will continue to look at its finances because it wants to "secure long term funding in the
future to match the length of its borrowings with the life of its long-term
assets, including the Stadium of Light and Football Academy".

Today's news doesn't mean, however, that Mick McCarthy has additional funds to strengthen the squad, or that the club has escaped its substantial debts completely.

Vice-chairman John Fickling explained, "What has changed is how it is going to be repaid and more importantly, over what timescale.

"The club hasn't received any new funds to invest in the team or any other issues for that matter.

"What it does mean is that we have dealt with the traumatic and immediate impact of relegation and we have survived.

"It means the club has arrested what could have been a serious decline. The position now has levelled out and we are in a position to move forwards and upwards."

Why Do I Do It? Offer

I'd like to thank everyone who has bought Why Do I Do It? since its launch in October 2003 and I am particularly grateful those who have emailed me with their kind comments. The time taken to read and provide feedback is most honourable and I am extremely humbled.

Presently the book is still in the top 10 local paperbacks category in Sunderland and is the top ranked SAFC related book on Amazon (figures to end of January 2004).

It can still be bought locally in Sunderland via Ottakars, Hills, ALS Shop & SAFCSA shop inside and outside of the SoL.

As a special promotion during what is effectively a quiet period for buying SAFC related merchandise, the web site www.whydoidoit.co.ukis offering the book at a discounted price of £6.00 per copy and with reduced postage. For further details go to www.whydoidoit.co.uk/buy.asp and order now. All goods will be dispatched within 2-3 days (including weekends).

On another note there will be two new novels out this year by myself one with a summertime release - see www.dontreadthis.co.ukfor more details and www.publishingarrogance.co.uk and register your interest to obtain details of special ordering discounts and other news relating these upcoming releases and future projects.

Thank you for your time in reading this "press release", yes its blatant advertising and I know many people do not like such "in your face" approaches. I apologise but I'm only human and I merely want to share my work with everyone.

P D Han