Black Cats report loss of £8.8m

BARCLAYS Premiership strugglers Sunderland have reported a loss of £8.8million as they attempt to cling on to their top-flight status.

Figures for the year ended July 31 show a pre-tax loss which has increased by £7.6million from the previous period.

However the club, which still has net debts of £40million incurred after the club were relegated from the Premiership in 2003, revealed the shortfall is a result of their efforts to win promotion back to the Premiership at the second attempt.