Sunderland close to finalising deal for Wes Brown and John O'Shea

Sunderland expect to confirm the signings of Wes Brown and John O'Shea from Manchester United in the next 48 hours after the defenders agreed moves to the Stadium of Light despite late interest from Stoke City. Brown was due to have a medical on Wednesday night, and O'Shea is scheduled to follow suit on Thursday. Last month United accepted a £12m joint bid for Brown, O'Shea and Darron Gibson from the Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce. Talks with Gibson, who also interests Newcastle United, have stalled, with the midfielder's personal terms considered steep by Sunderland. Meanwhile Bruce has dispatched Cristian Riveros to Kayserispor of Turkey on a season‑long loan in the wake of the Paraguay midfielder's failure to adapt to English football last season. Two key boardroom figures departed Sunderland on Wednesday afternoon when Steve Walton, the club's chief executive, stepped down after three years in post and Lesley Callaghan, the commercial and marketing director after 19 years. It has transpired that, when Ellis Short became Sunderland's owner two years ago, Walton and Callaghan agreed to stay on for another 24 months but that effective handover period is now up. Margaret Byrne, the much admired legal director at the Stadium of Light, is now expected to assume greater responsibilities.