"It’s important to be honest with you from the start."
A line from Kyril Louis-Dreyfus' letter to fans in March 2021 as he pledged to bring success to the club.
Lee Johnson delivered success in the form of the EFL Trophy last season as the 25-year-old watched on from an empty Wembley Stadium, but the Black Cats head coach fell on his own sword after the Wearsiders were thrashed 6-0 by Bolton Wanderers.
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Two weeks of negotiations and deliberating have seen Sunderland fall further adrift of the automatic promotion places, with Alex Neil set to be appointed later today.
Nonetheless, this feels like the first real rough patch of Louis-Dreyfus' ownership.
The son of the former Marseille owner has put on record numerous times that he's the 'majority' shareholder at the club and shot caller, but fans will not be satisfied with that response until Madrox have nothing to do with the football club.
You need just look at the social media backlash to Charlie Methven's appearance at Cheltenham Town.
The former Sunderland director still has a share in the club, and of course, can still attend games.
However, the Black Cats fanbase have made their feelings clear about the relationship between Louis-Dreyfus and the Madrox group from the get go. They want to know exact numbers in relation to shares and what influence the former owners have on proceedings at the Stadium of Light.
So, why can't the new owner deliver on his promise to be 'honest'?
A non-disclosure agreement is the reason why the exact breakdown of the Sunderland shareholders can't be revealed, but while the lack of transparency is there, fans will have every right to question the motive.
The Sunderland owner wasted no time in getting the fanbase on side, taking aim at previous ownership, whichever one that may be, claiming the club needed rebuilding from the ground up after years of "asset stripping."
If his comments were indeed about the Madrox group, why then are they still on the scene?
These questions have been on fans lips since day dot. While good results and wins on the pitch may have masked that feeling, or at least put it on the backburner, the club cannot truly move forward with a clean slate until Louis-Dreyfus answers fans' questions.
After all, Louis-Dreyfus wrote: "Throughout the past few years, you have placed your faith in the club during a time when it needed it most. I’m sure there have been occasions when it felt like the club turned its back on you, but your passion never faltered.
"Throughout good times and bad, you have been the one constant that this football club can always rely on.
"That support should never and will never be taken for granted."
The Black Cats owner is set to meet with fans later this month.
