Black Cat only wants the cream

TODAY Ireland, tomorrow the world. Sunderland’s attempt to crack the Irish market begins with the first of three friendlies against Bohemians on Saturday, but the Republic is just the first step in a campaign to establish the club as a player on the global market, according to Niall Quinn.

Other Premiership sides like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton have travelled to Asia and the United States in an attempt to earn their slice of the corporate dollar and Quinn has similar plans for Sunderland.

The Premiership will be shown live in 207 countries next season and, though Sunderland can count on a passionate 49,000 home crowd, their chairman believes they must develop a fan base far beyond the 20-mile radius of the city.