Roy’s shopping concerns get tongues wagging

FOOTBALLERS shunning Sunderland because of the poor shopping? Surely not!

WAGs — a term regularly used to describe the luxury-lifestyle-loving wives and girlfriends of football’s elite — has taken on a new meaning after it emerged that players could be avoiding Sunderland because their wives don’t want to shop there.

Well, that’s according to Sunderland FC boss Roy Keane.

OK, Sunderland’s Park Lane is actually a bus station and its homeside might not have a Harrods, or its high street a Harvey Nichols but businesses in the city are proud of what is on offer.

And furious shop bosses have now issued a “come and see for yourself” message to the trendy WAGs.

Despite Sunderland playing in the Premiership, the club has missed out on a number of signings and it has been suggested this could be down to off-the-pitch reasons and the luxury shops of London.

Keane, without naming names, believes that some stars have to talk transfers through with their wives and girlfriends for non-footballing reasons, and that shopping is high on the list.

The retail heart of the city is focused around the Bridges Shopping Centre, where more than 100 top-name high street stores have branches in the bright and airy walkways.

Investment is bringing life back into the Victorian streets of the city centre, where independent shops and boutiques offer everything from designer labels to trendy interiors.

Eye-catching pieces of jewellery, glassware and ceramics are also a Sunderland speciality, with craft and gift shops at the museums and galleries featuring the works of up-and-coming designers.

Management at the Bridges yesterday said there was an abundance of shopping malls and the WAGs had got it wrong.

Bridges marketing manager Sarah King said: “I echo Roy Keane’s sentiments in that football should be about football and players should not be led by their wives and girlfriends.

“Wrongly, in this case, they are assuming that Sunderland does not have anything to offer. I would urge them to come and see for themselves what we do have to offer. The shopping is here and they really should come along and appreciate the city.”

Miss Sunderland Carly Auld also joined in the campaign to save the city’s name: “I think it’s a really nice city. It’s really come a long way in the last few years and the people are so friendly.

“It has got shopping centres, nightlife, just everything you could really want. So I don’t understand why people would not want to come.”

Keane said: “It is a genuine worry when there is such a big attraction with London.

“It would be different if it was Chelsea, Arsenal or maybe even Tottenham but when they go to a club just because it is in London and the clubs are not even that big it is clearly down to the shops.

“We have had one or two this year but we can’t do much about it so you can’t worry too much.

“Although they won’t say it to you, you know that is what they are thinking because they say ‘I need to speak to my wife, blah, blah, blah’.”

The leader of Sunderland City Council, Bob Symonds, said: “Our vision for Sunderland off the field is entirely consistent with the football club’s bold vision on the pitch. This is a city with high aspirations and a bright future reflected in a £1 billion transformation, which is continuing to attract international attention and establish Sunderland on the world stage.”

Now that should set tongues wagging.