Premier League - Quinn wants big name manager

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 14:39:00 2009

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has promised to take his time to find a big-name manager after Ricky Sbragia kept the club in the Barclays Premier League and then stood down.

FOOTBALL Ricky Sbragia, who quit as Sunderland manager after they narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League - 0

The 50-year-old announced his decision not to take up the option of another year on his contract in the wake of the Black Cats' 3-2 home defeat by Chelsea, despite defeats for Hull and Newcastle ensuring they remain in the top flight.

Quinn, who appointed Sbragia as Roy Keane's permanent replacement in December after his successful spell as caretaker, paid tribute to him for the job he has done since, and then vowed to recruit a high-profile boss to take over.

He said: "It needs a big man to take on a mantle, to take the pressure, to take the interest, to take the strain of getting a big club like this to go forward and to change the mentality.

"But what I would say - and Ricky knows it too - we do need a big name here, but we need somebody, I believe, who will change the mentality of the dressing room.

"But that's for another day. I haven't even set a timescale for starting to talk about it, and that's the truth."

Goals from Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole gave Chelsea victroy in Guus Hiddink's final game in charge with Kieran Richardson and Kenwyne Jones replying for Sunderland.

Sbragia told Sky Sports: "I've had a chat with Niall (chairman, Quinn) this week and I think we need a bigger name to carry the club further. I've done everything I needed to.

"I was given the opportunity to manage the club - and I've kept them in the Premier League. I would like to have done it better but I'm really pleased we stayed up.

"There's been a lot of pressure - we started so well and maybe got carried away, losing our focus - but I always thought we were good enough to stay in the Premier League.

"I would like to have finished it with a win but I'm pleased for the players and my staff. We've got a foundation and I'll be thoroughly enjoying seeing Sunderland move up that table.

"I'll come back in the next couple of days and tidy things up and I'll look forward to some time on my own reflecting on what's happened in the last five months."

PA Sport

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Tony we're just not a big enough club to have star­ talent like Wise on our books,we're not up there­ (oh sorry,down there)with the big guns like NUFC and­ Boro you know.No we'll have to start off a bit­ smaller than him,is anyone smaller than him? maybe­ we'll hire a Swedish umpa lumpa

    From jack torrance, on Wed 27 May 12:44PM

  2. Well said Philip B, every comment you have made on hear­ has certailnly confirmed it, you are a complete dik­ heed !!!

    From TTIOT, on Tue 26 May 1:31PM

  3. Well premiership survival again by the skin of our­ teeth,credit to Ricky for keeping us up after surrender­ monkey Keane left us in the proverbial s**t. But now­ need to push on with a seasoned manager with the right­ vision to spend the £200mill. promised wisely and not­ just sp*nk it the way Keane did.The future's­ bright,the future's red and white.

    From jack torrance, on Tue 26 May 1:01PM

  4. Dream on you will get a @#$% manager to match your @#$%­ team!!!!!!!!

    From keith j, on Mon 25 May 11:07PM

  5. Michael Laudrup?

    From Maria, on Mon 25 May 10:03PM

  6. Oh and by the way Clare, show a bit of class huh - you­ do set a poor example for all the fine women of­ sunderland; and what must outsiders be­ thinking!
    'Do one', indeed . . . tsk,tsk!
    You­ see clare, what i have engaged in all season long is­ banter; aka friendly rivallry!
    Alas, you do not get it­ do you . . . tsk, tsk.
    What bitterness; very sad, very­ sad indeed.
    Tell you what, i can't wait til August­ - bring it on!!!!!!!

    From cameron w, on Mon 25 May 9:21PM

  7. clarerobson
    ha-ha,
    trust me baby; i am here for­ life!!!!!!
    And remember this . . .what goes around­ comes around!
    Enjoy it while it lasts.
    Ha-ha; here for­ life baby, here for life!!!!!

    From cameron w, on Mon 25 May 9:15PM

  8. well he is to big for you cameron for a fact anyway you­ are on the wrong site this for prem talk not­ championship so do one .GO bother the boro fan they are­ on your level

    From clarerobson, on Mon 25 May 7:39PM

  9. Is Gordon Strachan 'big' enough for you?

    From cameron w, on Mon 25 May 7:28PM

  10. quinny needs 2 get it right this time! i'd like to­ see martin jol or slaven bilic get the job! ps. if that­ @#$% mclaren gets the job i'll never go to another­ match!

    From Gareth T, on Mon 25 May 6:42PM

  11. 28. Yiddo rent boy?

    Six Sunderland players standing in­ a hotel lift in­ London in April 2010. The lift­ operator asks "Are­ you going up or down?"­ The irate Sunderland­ captain retorts "Dunya read­ tha sports­ pages?!....of course weeze goin down!

    Not­ at all surprised you find this excruciating­ embarrassing six year old drivel amusing,

    It's­ Dinnit and gannen as well, you lonely retarded fcukwit­ schmoozer.

    From PWilson, on Mon 25 May 3:58PM

  12. jim r you are a bigot

    From Fred, on Mon 25 May 2:56PM

  13. hope it's alan shearer! just for the comedy value

    From martin, on Mon 25 May 2:56PM

  14. Who did Sunderland beat in the FA cup in 1973?Where are­ their opponents now?.What divisions were they­ in?.Sunderland are a BIG HEARTED club and they have­ proven that for the last 3 seasons.No Mackem had a go­ at us earlier this season when we looked at relegation­ so why be disrepectful?

    From Rick Moth, on Mon 25 May 2:55PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Six Sunderland players standing in a hotel lift in­ London in April 2010. The lift operator asks "Are­ you going up or down?" The irate Sunderland­ captain retorts "Dunya read tha sports­ pages?!....of course weeze goin down!

    From Philip B, on Mon 25 May 2:20PM

  16. Replace sbragia (whatever) he quit (ediot)

    From Nath, on Mon 25 May 2:16PM

  17. P Wilson (comment 24)
    Quote: "it's depends on­ where your coming­ from"
    Your post proved my point­ exactly.
    1) "It's depends" should read­ "It depends"
    2) "your coming from"­ should read "you're coming from.
    My post here­ is that you are a totally illiterate dumbass Geordie­ cuunnt who hates it because I am a Spurs supporter who­ moved up the table from bottom to eighth this season!­ As for the size of my penis...........when did you see­ it? When I was six?

    From Philip B, on Mon 25 May 2:13PM

  18. It's plain to see.....(I'm typing this slowly­ for you geordies so you understand) that all the anall­ creatures reading this story are Sunderland supporters­ because my earlier (sorry.... (slow down Phil) ...my­ last message) post has received many negatives, which­ only goes to prove that all Geordies are either senile­ or brain-dead.

    From Philip B, on Mon 25 May 2:02PM

  19. Pillick Philip B(ollocks

    Firstly, Sunderland is South­ of Hadrian's wall(going by the old border) Which is­ England, and now that the border was moved Miles north­ some centuries ago it's still in England you­ Turd.

    Secondly, it's depends on where your coming­ from "Big Club" 50,000 is a Big number, and­ as I suspect you probably support some little club, in­ keeping with the isolated size of your penis.

    Thirdly,­ Geordie-land is north of England(going by the old­ border) in Newcastle."Mackem you­ @#$%"

    Finally, What sad lonely nonsensical drivel­ of a post

    From PWilson, on Mon 25 May 1:21PM

  20. ni all quinn was suppose to take his time last time­ chooseing a new manager the sooner they pick one the­ more time the new guy will have to sort them out

    From anthonyjohnramsey, on Mon 25 May 1:05PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account