The incredible inside story behind Josh Maja's dramatic Sunderland exit - and irate Jack Ross' phone call to Stewart Donald
and live on Freeview channel 276
In revealing scenes from season two of Netflix docu-series ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ - which is set to return to the streaming service on April 1 - owner Stewart Donald discusses the circumstances behind Maja’s exit, including a phone call from an irate Jack Ross.
Scenes across three episodes chart Maja’s contract saga, with intriguing insights from a number of senior staff and players.
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Hide AdAnd in one final interview, Donald explains the exact circumstances behind the striker’s exit - which include claims he packed up his belongings and left the Academy of Light before a deal was agreed.
“People told me it would play out this way,” said Donald.
“I’m negotiating with Josh, it’s all moving along - and then Jack calls me.
“He says ‘thanks very much - Josh has come in and picked up all his stuff and said that he’s gone. You could have told me you’d accepted an offer.’
“I said ‘woah, hold on a minute. I haven’t accepted anything.’”
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Hide AdAt the time, it was reported that Sunderland had received around £3million for the in-demand striker - although the Echo reported that fee was substantially less, and would begin at around £1.5million, although a number of clauses could see the final sum reach around £3.5million.
And Donald has now confirmed that Sunderland did receive just short of £1.5million for a striker who had scored 16 goals before the turn of the year.
“I haggled the best I could,” said the Sunderland majority shareholder.
“We ended up with I think €1.5million. It’s not a great deal, but it’s the best we could get.
“It isn’t worth anything in comparison to promotion.”
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Hide AdSunderland ‘Til I Die, produced by Fulwell 73, will return to Netflix on April 1.
The second series concentrates on Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven’s attempts to turn around the club’s off-field operations - while also targeting promotion to the Championship.