Quinn to slash player wages if Cats suffer drop

SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn has revealed his players will take a 40% wage cut if they are relegated.

The Black Cats are just three points off the Premier League drop zone and facing a tough run-in.

“We’ve secured minimum wage cuts of 40% on every player and every contract,’’ Quinn said.

“Obviously some players won’t come down with us, and their agents won’t let them, but for us as a business it wouldn’t be catastrophic.’’

He added: “It would be catastrophic for morale and fans, but we’d still be in better shape than when we took over.’’

Quinn has also moved to clarify the future of manager Ricky Sbragia, who signed an 18-month deal in December following Roy Keane’s departure.

Quinn had been quoted as calling Sbragia “a halfway-house option’’, but the former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland striker added: “I meant I didn’t want to give him six months and say you’re under pressure to keep us up.

“I also didn’t want to give him three-and-a-half years and face a possible compensation payout if things didn’t go right for us.

“That was a tough decision, but I was convinced at the time it was the right one.

“Time will tell whether it was or not.’’

Quinn added he was happy with the job Sbragia has done so far.

“It’s my preference that he keeps us up and we extend the contract,’’ said Quinn. “We’re thrilled with what he’s done up until now. It was an enormous task we gave him.

“He brought the calmness we needed, got players believing in themselves again and made real progress.’’