Quinn supports Short

Black Cats chairman praises the ongoing efforts of American owner

Last updated: 12th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Quinn supports Short

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Niall Quinn has assured Sunderland supporters that owner Ellis Short remains fully committed to the club.

The Black Cats chairman has revealed that the Texan tycoon continues to allow the North East outfit to operate on a sound financial footing, while sharing the emotions of those who flock to the Stadium of Light every week.

Sunderland are about to release their latest figures, which will show a £26million loss, but those numbers simply represent the latest outlay in new talent.

Short has also saved the club a £48million shortfall by converting loans into shares, and Quinn is adamant the American has the Black Cats' best interests at heart.

He said: "He is Sunderland through and through, his family are. His son goes to school every day in a Sunderland shirt, which isn't an easy thing to do down in London, but that's the difference in our owner.

"He doesn't want publicity, he is not doing it to be patted on the back by fans. He is doing it because he is in there now, he is one of us.

"He is hoping there is a very big future here."

Spending

Sunderland got back to winning ways against Bolton last time out, but a recent wobble has left them in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Top-flight safety is still far from secure, but Quinn has revealed that the club are ready for any eventuality and would not be forced into a fire sale were they to succumb to the drop.

He added: "We have got ourselves structurally very sound to deal with all eventualities. Obviously, the preferred eventuality of spending is improving the squad and moving up the table.

"We do have an aim of being an established top-10 club over time, but we don't want to find ourselves desperately losing sleep in April whether we are going to be in this league every year.

"Should the worst happen, nothing will hurt this club in the way it might have in the past.

"We are fine, the books are balanced and there's no Armageddon-type story at this club.

"And at the tail end, we have got an owner who will support, and keep supporting in a way that doesn't hurt the club financially, but gives us the best chance of success on the pitch."