Keane: In complete control

Related links

Teams

• Sunderland

Also see

• Sunderland fixtures
• Sunderland stats
• Sunderland forum

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn believes the club can fulfil Roy Keane's lofty managerial ambitions.

The Irishman has entered the final year of a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light, having helped establish the Black Cats as a top flight outfit during his time on Wearside.

He has always insisted that he remains relaxed about his future, but the situation has dominated the headlines surrounding the club of late.

However, Quinn has now revealed that, with a new two-year financial plan put in place, talks regarding a new deal have been opened with Keane's representatives.

Structure

"The media seem to be more agitated about that, and more worried about it, than I," he told Sky Sports News.

"We didn't approach Roy about the contract for the simple reason I wanted to get everything sorted behind the scenes, get the structure sorted and get a sound financial footing for the next couple of years.

"We have managed to do that over the last couple of months and it was only last Friday that I first contacted Roy's solicitor about making something that makes sense.

"I could tell Roy where the club is going and where we can support him. I think approaching him before that would not have been worthwhile.

"It's not a big thing, it's not about money here. It's about the direction the club is travelling in and the support we can offer in the future.

"I'm pleased to say that we now have a slick, intelligent business plan behind the scenes for the next two-and-a-half years and on Friday we started negotiations to bring Roy in on that."

Restrictions

A confidentiality agreement prevented Quinn from commenting on reports that the new two-year plan had been drawn up as a result of Irish-American businessman Ellis Short acquiring a 30 per cent stake in Drumaville, the consortium which owns the club.

However, the chairman did confirm that whatever happens behind the scenes Keane will remain in complete control of managerial duties.

"We won't put any restrictions on Roy. He is very aware of the power he has in bringing people to the club, and he will just get our backing to do that," Quinn added.

"He has appointed scouts in 13 countries since we came, which is a big change from where we were two and a bit years ago.

"Slowly but surely, every aspect of the club is going that way.

"He has got the power to appoint scouts, he has got the power to name and choose the players we go after.

"He is the manager in every sense of the word and the fact now that we have a two and a half-year business plan, it is the right and correct time to ask him to commit."