Sunderland are now partly-owned by Dallas-based businessman Ellis Short.

It was revealed by the Premier League that Short, 48, has bought into the Drumaville Consortium that owns the club, with the American thought to be the man responsible for bankrolling Roy Keane's summer spending.

Short, who was born in Missouri, has agreed to underwrite Roy Keane's next contract (the one we're currently negotiating) made his money as the co-founder of the Dallas based equity house Lone Star Funds.