Sunderland have met with the support collective to discuss a number of issues
At a meeting of the Sunderland supporter collective, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus stated that following an internal inquiry into the Black Cats Bar scandal earlier this year, ‘necessary’ action has been taken.
Before the two sides’ FA Cup Third Round match at the beginning of the year, the bar was redecorated in Newcastle United colours and slogans, which infuriated the fans. Louis-Dreyfus took to social media to apologise after the decision was reversed.
On March 12, the club held a meeting with representatives from several supporter groups. Although Louis-Dreyfus was not present, he provided an update at the start of the meeting.
The minutes stated, “After an internal inquiry that the Club’s Board of Directors had ordered was completed, we determined that a grave mistake of judgement had been made regarding the Black Cats Bar.
“We now understand how this error in judgement was made and have identified where accountability sits, confirming that the action taken was inexcusable and more importantly preventable. Although employment law prevents us from sharing any information, all staff involved in the matter were interviewed and following the conclusion of a detailed internal enquiry, the appropriate levels of action have now been taken to conclude this process.
“At the last meeting with supporters’ groups, we made a commitment to putting fans at the heart of all that we do. That commitment is unwavering, and as supporters you will soon start to see meaningful change. We understand where we need to improve, and this includes an ongoing requirement to continually develop our people and refine our processes. In the coming months, we are excited about bringing that commitment to life and embracing it throughout all levels of our club.”
Attendee supporters of the cause voiced some unhappiness with the update’s limitations and reaffirmed how strongly they still felt about the problem. The minutes state that chief operating officer Steve Davison said, “The Club appreciates that a series of actions for improvement will be needed over time to regain trust.” Club officials at the meeting pledged to relay the information back to Louis Dreyfus.
You may read the entire set of meeting minutes here.
