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Sunderland women set to appoint FA's Gray as CEO

James GraySunderland AFC

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Sunderland women are set to appoint James Gray as their new chief executive officer following the recent takeover by Bay Collective.

Gray currently works as commercial director at the Football Association and will begin his role at Sunderland in September.

He will lead Sunderland's strategic and commercial performance, strive for financial sustainability and head up football operations.

Gray will be reunited with former FA colleagues Kay Cossington and Anja van Ginhoven.

Cossington is CEO of Bay Collective, which also holds a majority stake in Bay FC in the United States, with Van Ginhoven serving as the group's director of global operations.

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Gray has worked in sport for over 25 years and during his time at the FA has overseen commercial operations in the women's game, including the Women's FA Cup.

He previously had roles at Barclays, Amazon, Disney and Manchester United.

Last week, former West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner was named as Sunderland women's new technical director.

Skinner, 46, has vast experience in the women's game, having held assistant managerial roles at both England and Wales.

Bay Collective completed its takeover of Sunderland's women's team last month, acquiring a majority stake.

Sunderland finished eighth in the WSL 2 last season.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines

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