The truth................ Depression.....McClean.......Keane............. the stand etc.. http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1138698 Skip to 24-25 mins............all is revealed.
That made my day Commo, a very, very good interview that gave a lot of answers, thank you for posting it.
This is how someone summed it up on another board... And it's pretty fair.. .............................................. - He struggled with the off-pitch / on-pitch thing - mentioned that he'd work hard behind the scenes to pull off a major sponsorship thing, only for the team to lose that weekend and the fans being angry as a result. - Enjoying working for his new company - more control, less pressure. - Reckons he's done with football totally, sees this as his retirement from the game. - MON was a big reason for his leaving. He saw his role as being there to 'gee up' the fans. Now that MON is in place, Quinn thinks the club is at the next level, so Quinn is no longer needed. - Bought the club without any due diligence, seat of the pants stuff. - Quit football in a huff after Reidy was sacked. Fell into depression. Geoff Shreeves went to Ireland to drag Quinn back to a game to get his head straight. - Highlight as Chairman was Carlos Edward's goal v Burnley - Hasn't spoke to Keane since he left, found out about it via text - Short and Keane both text Quinn to say they had a row, Quinn on a plane at the time. - James McClean was recommended by Pop Robson who saw him when he was a Chelsea scout - Chelsea weren't interested. He was on his way to speak to another club, Quinn intercepted him and signed him in a pub between Derry and the airport. He wanted to play for RoI and Quinn called the FAI to make it happen. - Knows about the move to name a stand after him. He's flattered, but doesn't want it. Wants to be able to return to Sunderland games without fanfare. A lot of his best mates are from Sunderland, seems embarrassed about the idea of them going to 'his stand'. .............................. But it is a topper interview he gave.
Good stuff and tells us why he is so loved at SAFC. I wonder who the major sponsor was? As for naming a stand after him, there can be no debate, even if it does embarrass him. Has any former player, director or club fan deserved it more. Quinny is all 3 of the above and the Sir Niall Quinn Stand should be a must and I would suggest the upper stand by the directors seats perfect. I would name the other 3 too. The 73 Stand - behind the north stand goal with the new away allocation. In salute of all the FA Cup team. The Raich Carter Stand - east stand after the greatest local player ever. The Roker End behind the south stand goal, now the away fans are gone. I'd love to have a memory of Roker Park at the SOL. Just a thought like.
Just goes to show top bloke who follows his heart, and loves our club. I know he says he'd be embarrassed by the club naming a stand after him but to me this proves even more that we should. Love the bit about McLean.
I was thinking exactly the same about the Niall Quinn stand. If Quinny is so against any fanfare he shouldn't of been such a legend. Sorry Niall but fanfare you shall have.
I loved watching Pop in the 70's and early 80's and I tell you what, he'd still be worth a few bob in the transfer market if he had played in the modern game. Knew where the goal was did Pop and its fantastic to have him scouting for the club today.
Just about every person I know I can find a fault with, we all have them, with Quinny I cant find one. I know some will say its was his attack on fans about pubs but I never saw that as an attack on fans, it was a man with passion wanting us all in the ground.
He set up a satellite broadband company so he can show the Sunderland games on TV. Can't beat 'em, join 'em! Nah, kidding. He did set up the broadband company though. The man is an absolute legend. He deserves a knighthood even though he isn't 'british'. Just like Geldoff, he deserves an Honorary one. The is no more deserving person in the sporting world.
Really interesting interview. I think there is still more to come though. I think the last 6 years have taken a toll on him personally, that he has kept hidden from us. I'm with Cestria O'Neill on naming the stands. Especially like the Roker End idea, providing the link back to Roker Park. That Mail story has really got the memories flooding back today.
Reading between the lines, he seems to have been frustrated with things not going the way of his dreams and aspirations.
He did say he has no economics degree.. what he learned was in the dressing room. At heart I think he wanted to give the Sunderland fans everything, bring them back to their glories as they had been his high when he was a player. He wanted to give back to them. You could tell when he talked about sitting in a pub watching the footy on the TV how gutted he was... like he was giving his all, and he wasn't really seeing from the fans what he was working so hard for. I think that hit him the hardest.
