Quinn: Delighted

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Life-long Sunderland fan Steve Walton has been tasked with driving the Black Cats forward as the new chief executive of the club.

Walton brings a wealth of experience to the role and will take over in March next year from present incumbent Peter Walker, who has decided to pursue an opportunity outside of football.

The married father of two has worked for Barclays for more than 30 years and is currently corporate director for the bank, having previously been their director of football.

His CV includes helping with the financing of clubs, as well as handling many high-profile player transfers at home and abroad.

He also spent five months with Newcastle prior to the takeover by Mike Ashley in 2007 before returning to Barclays.

Walton, who was born in the city and still lives there, told the club's official website: "I am excited and looking forward to working alongside what I already know is a strong and very professional team of people at Sunderland.

Firmer footing

"From my perspective, Sunderland is on firmer footing than in recent years, so there is a great platform to build on to make the club an even stronger Premier League brand in the future.

"Having worked as a strategic adviser to many Premier League football clubs for a number of years, I have gained a unique insight and understanding of the challenges and issues faced by Premier League clubs, and I am proud to have worked so closely with many key figures in the industry and been trusted to advise and assist them.

"Having attended Sunderland games from an early age with my grandfather in the Clock Stand at Roker Park, I never imagined that one day I would be sitting alongside Niall Quinn in the directors' box at the Stadium of Light and steering the club I have supported all my life."

Chairman Quinn added: "I am thrilled that Steve has accepted the position and know he will bring some great qualities to the role.

"His leadership style, vision and wider knowledge of the football industry will be a real plus for us going forward.

"Steve's practical support of the club goes back a long way, from helping with the financing for the Stadium of Light through some more challenging times in recent years.

Superb advisor

"Since the takeover, he has also been a superb adviser and friend to the club.

"The fact he has supported the lads for the last 40 years and shared in some of the club's frustrating and exasperating times makes him an ideal candidate to take the club forward."

The Black Cats have also appointed Coca-Cola's former director of football Chris Woerts to the new post of international business development director.

Woerts has previously worked with Dutch club Feyenoord and for Heineken.