Quinn looks beyond Ireland

Quinn: Former Ireland international

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Chairman Niall Quinn insists Sunderland will always look beyond Ireland when they go into the transfer market.

Quinn and manager Roy Keane, who were international team-mates for the Republic of Ireland, are working to bolster the Black Cats' squad this summer.

The club's financial backing comes from the mainly Irish Drumaville consortium, which has helped the Premier League side establish a new fan-base in Eire.

Keane's current squad includes nine men who have been capped at senior level by Ireland - while the Sunderland boss has also been linked with moves for Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Ireland, Damian Duff, Aiden McGeady and Richard Dunne this summer.

But the Wearsiders, who head across the Irish Sea for pre-season games against Cobh Ramblers, Athlone Town and Shamrock Rovers, are determined to recruit the best players they can - regardless of their nationality.

Connection

Quinn told the Sunderland Echo: "We do have a big Irish connection but we don't purposely go out to sign Irish players.

"If there were two players, we would go for the one we wanted the most - not the Irish one.

"We have scouting systems in Ireland at all levels, which we did not have before, and we think we will see the benefit of that in years to come.

"It's respecting the clubs, the young players, the parents, the FAI.

"We have a close relationship with football in Ireland. We have paid a record fee for an Irish player (from the Eircom League).

"We would like to continue to nourish the link between Ireland and Sunderland. It makes us a bigger international club, because we are not relying on people within 20 miles of us."