Chris Coleman is a former Sunderland manager who began his reign at the Stadium of Light in November 2017 after he left his post in charge of the Welsh national team. Having led his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 - the first tournament Wales had qualified for since the 1950s - Coleman decided to return to club football. However, he could not save Sunderland from relegation to League One and was sacked as owner Ellis Short agreed to sell the club to a group led by Stewart Donald.
Charlie Methven was Sunderland s Executive Director, having joined the club in 2018 following Stewart Donald s successful takeover from Ellis Short. He stepped down from the board in 2019 but continued as a shareholder at the club.