There was a brief article in the Sunday Express saying that Ellis Short ones to bring in two Americans onto the board and this could lead to Quinny leaving, I personally don't believe it and I couldn't think which two Americans would have a better football brain than Big Niall. Had anybody else heard of rumours of Niall leaving?
That was about the Sunday Mirror article the one in the Express says Niall may consider his position.
Think Syd was answering your question about anyone heard any other rumours mate. As for my personal thinking, there's no way ES would bring in Americans as replacements for Quinn. The guy is far too smart to even think it. They may be a couple of mates he is bringing in to inject more cash who knows.
I mentioned it earlier mate. Personally I think NQ's days are looking numbered...love him to bits like but he's made a few BIG mistakes in last couple years...
What big mistakes has he made in the past two years Tiz? The only major one I can think of is giving Ricky the full time job but luckily we stayed up and that was over two years ago.
Ok Sbragia was just over 2 years ago but it was a terrible choice of manager and he was lucky to get away with it. Also not only appointing Bruce in the 1st place (even though we finished 10th last season) but giving him a contract extension was a mistake imo. He also upset or angered alot of fans last season about attendances...
Don't kid yourself about NQ being solely responsible for SB's contract extension, Ellis Short would have been fully involved in that one and probably the Spragia issue as well. It's paper talk and nothing else, were there any quotes from anyone attached to the club? never saw it myself but very much doubt that there were. Couple of good wins and all this paper talk will go away, they'll be looking at who else they can persecute. Probably Wenger after yesterday.
I can never understand this hostility towards Sbragia. His remit, after Keane left us in dire straits (not the group), was to keep us in the PL. He did that so job done and then he resigned immediately afterwards. Quinn brought in some from inside the club who knew what the situation was and what was needed. If he had brought someone from outside who knows what would've happened. True he may also have saved us but he may also have been unable to stop the rot and we would've ended up in the bottom three.
Sbragia's remit was simple. Save SAFC from relegation. Not an easy task seen as Keane had spent all the money and left us sitting bottom three. Roy's squad could of just thrown the towel in had it not been for Ricky.
I can't understand ANY hostility towards Quinn. Bruce, at the time, majority of us (without the "He's a geordie" blinkers) were delighted with the appointment. One of the best british managers at the time. Good appointment IMO (at the time) Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If anyone had been offered 10th place before last season started, I'd defy any SAFC fan to have turned it down - yet Bruce is still a failure because of the losing streak. We have improved over the past 2 seasons - everyone says we were lucky - I say we were the 10th best teram in the premier league last season - the league table, after 38 games, does not lie. After events this season (and the debacle which was the Carling Cup) - I have been moved from the field of Bruce In to the Fence that separates it from the Field which is Bruce Out - but I believe that we could have signed anyone in that window and people would still want his head - ONLY because we lost to the mags. That said - I think Quinn has done a trememndous job as Chairman - one of the best chairmen in the league (if not the best) with the club in his heart and has been involved in football at all levels (Playing, Coaching/management and up to boardroom) - He made a decision on Bruce and I would expect him to back his own judgement any day of the week. To sack Bruce after only 3 league games would be crazy - the season hasn't started yet.
I could see a situation where we brought in a more business minded chariman, and gave Sir Niall an ambassadorial role at the club, akin to what Dalglish (pre return to management) and Hansen do for Liverpool. You'll probably find with a multi-billionaire they have a group of top personel that have worked alongside them for years, it's not inconcievable, nor is it any slur on the big man, to think he'd want to have his own man running the show. Niall Quinn IS Sunderland Football Club, his single mindedness and determination is why we have a billionaire in charge, and clubs like Leeds, Everton, both Sheffield clubs and more continue to tread financial water. He must have a role within the club for life, but there is sense in bringing in people from Ellis clerly capable business allies to run the commercial side of the business.
