Sunderland's takeover by businessman Stewart Donald and his consortium is virtually complete after the change of ownership from American billionaire Ellis Short was ratified by the English Football League (EFL) at a meeting last week.
Donald, who leads the international consortium going ahead with the takeover, previously owned non-league side Eastleigh and a 10% stake in Oxford United.
It is thought that Sunderland will be debt free as a a condition of the takeover - £140m debt was cleared by Short as a parting act - and will be able to appoint a new manager in the coming days following the departure of Chris Coleman last month.