Niall Quinn: 'I'm here to stay – even if the players want out'

As thoughts of the drop grip the North-east, the Sunderland chairman speaks to Michael Walker about the region's future

Wednesday 20 May 2009 00:00 BST
Comments
(GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In the midst of the uncertainty that has gripped the North-east throughout this scatterbrained season, one major figure from the region yesterday offered a measure of stability when the Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn pledged to stay whether his club remain for a third consecutive season in the Premier League or crash to a third relegation in six years. Quinn's statement of permanence stands in contrast to undetermined issues at Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, but also within Quinn's own club, with manager Ricky Sbragia's future looking every bit as vague as Alan Shearer's at Newcastle.

"I don't like thinking or talking negatively but if we do go down then it will be a huge, demoralising blow," Quinn said. "There will be players who do not want to play in that division [the Championship]. But I'll definitely be staying and we'll be pushing to invest to get straight back up." Kenwyne Jones, wanted by Tottenham, is one of those presumably keen to depart should Sunderland drop.

Future investment, as ever, is a key factor at all three clubs. Part of Sunderland's disappointment at losing 3-1 at Portsmouth on Monday night was that Quinn was forced to postpone an announcement about the ownership of the club. Ellis Short, the American-Irish businessman who is on the brink of a full takeover, saw that stall due to their failure to guarantee where they will be next season.

Short's general commitment is not in question – he sat beside Quinn at Fratton Park – but he may wish to question levels of investment should Sunderland lose to Chelsea on Sunday and Hull and Newcastle win their games. That is the only scenario that relegates Sunderland.

"Ellis came to the Portsmouth game to lend his support," Quinn said. "He's been a rock through this time and I hope we can do it for him. All being well, we will be able to make a strategic announcement soon."

That is believed to be a reference to the takeover but there is uncertainty at Sunderland in other areas. Last month Quinn warned everyone at the club, including Sbragia, that they were "under review".

Quinn's admiration for Sbragia is not in doubt, and he understands the difficulty in moving up to succeed Roy Keane, but expectation is decreasing that Sbragia will remain in charge beyond Sunday, though it is understood Sunderland have no plans to approach either Steve McClaren or Gordon Strachan. "It's been one hell of a battle since Christmas," Quinn said. "Ricky Sbragia came in and his first game was away at Manchester United. The players put on a fantastic defensive performance and were beaten in injury-time. Ricky's next game was away as well, at Hull, and if we'd lost that we were bottom of the league, in West Brom's boots.

"But we won, Ricky got us going and some of our fans were singing about Europe. But we knew then that it was all about getting over the line. The players' confidence dropped and we stopped scoring goals."

"But the thing that has given me most encouragement in the last two matches is that we've arguably been the better team in both," he added. "And we have to concentrate on ourselves, not worry about others, and hopefully we can get a famous victory against Chelsea on Sunday."

A Sunderland victory in tandem with a Hull one, would relegate Newcastle. That in part explains why job security, and not just Shearer's, is a topic on Tyneside.

Shearer looks like a man willing to commit himself to Newcastle regardless of their status next season but he is at the whim of an unpredictable owner in Mike Ashley, who in turn has understandable concerns about the economics at St James' Park. It is said Newcastle's boardroom has estimated the cost of relegation at £100m. That makes financial planning fraught, and it also means that reports of alleged takeover interest will re-surface.

Ashley has pumped approximately £250m into the club and he has appealed for "partners" to come forward to share the load. There have been no takers. There is also ongoing concern about Ashley's main business, Sports Direct, but an example of its strength was seen in the trading results for the three months to the end of January. Sports Direct declared a gross profit of £143m.

Ashley may not be quite on his last legs. But in his rare public comments he mentioned Newcastle having "the fifth-highest wage bill in the Premier League". Should Shearer stay, one of his tasks will be to reduce that.

Michael Owen and Mark Viduka are the only large earners who are out of contract next month. Shearer would undoubtedly want to sell several others, if he can. Joey Barton and Jose Enrique – £12m spent by previous manager Sam Allardyce – will not achieve anything like those valuations. Budgets are a discussion Shearer, the interim manager, is due to have with Ashley after Sunday, when his own future will have to be resolved. Manager Joe Kinnear remains a man rarely mentioned.

Middlesbrough, who require West Ham to collapse on Sunday as well as their relegation rivals, may have had their budget for next season ripped up by Stewart Downing's foot injury against Aston Villa. Downing, who upon relegation was expected to fetch £10-15m in the transfer market, will discover on Friday if he will be out for up to six months.

Gary O'Neil is expected to return to Portsmouth, while Tuncay Sanli has impressed and will have English suitors. For Boro the fear will be that Adam Johnson and David Wheater, two more academy products, will also be targets.

Johnson has pace, Wheater is the current North-east Player of the Year. This season has been harder for the defender and he will have an operation in the summer. But Gareth Southgate is certain about Wheater's quality. "It's nothing to do with it being David's second season, you have to prove yourself as a professional year after year," he said. "Maybe what happens is people allow you mistakes in the first season and don't judge you too harshly."

Up in the air: Who'll stay & who'll go?

Sunderland

Kenwyne Jones Sunderland rebuffed a massive offer from Tottenham in January for the striker and may receive another regardless of the division they are in. Jones says he will stay if Sunderland survive but...

Ricky Sbragia Sbragia's brief on succeeding Roy Keane in December was to keep the club in the division. But if Sunderland do stay up it will be in part due to the failings of others. Sbragia comes across as a reluctant manager.

Newcastle

Alan Shearer Everything Shearer says about enjoying his eight-game contract suggests he would like to stay on, no matter what division Newcastle are in. But he is relying on owner Mike Ashley asking him, and providing a decent budget.

Michael Owen Owen's contract is up at the end of the month and he declined a new four-year deal in December. His salary is vast and his last game for Newcastle may have been played.

Middlesbrough

Gareth Southgate The Boro chairman Steve Gibson reiterated his faith in Southgate a few weeks ago. Southgate himself has sounded more determined as each week has passed. It would be a surprise if that changes.

David Wheater Stewart Downing's serious foot injury means that Boro may not bank the expected cash for the winger this summer. They could then be vulnerable to other offers and Wheater, at 22, is an experienced defender already.

Hull City

Phil Brown There will be changes in playing personnel at Hull next season but Brown's relationship with chairman Paul Duffen is so solid that the manager will stay even if Hull fall.

Final fixtures (All 4.00pm)

Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Hull City v Manchester United

Sunderland v Chelsea

West Ham United v Middlesbrough

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in