Quinn wants a winner as manager

NIALL QUINN will look for a born winner – with no frills – when he starts the search for Sunderland’s new manager in earnest.

Three years after leading the Drumaville consortium’s successful takeover at the Stadium of Light, the Irishman is looking for his third boss following Ricky Sbragia’s decision to stand down on Sunday with Premier League status secured.

American investor Ellis Short is expected to confirm his buy-out later this week after bank-rolling the club’s summer transfer spree last year.

Quinn, who served Sunderland with such distinction as a player, is looking for a change of mentality after seeing the club struggle to retain its place in the Premier League despite spending almost £80million on the squad in the last two years.

Asked what specifically he is looking for after Sunday’s 3-2 home defeat by Chelsea, he said: “A winning mentality.

“I believe we have got a lot of talent in that dressing room.

“We don’t need frilly players here, we need proper men, and I think a big manager can bring us that type of player.”

A growing list of potential candidates is already emerging – Gordon Strachan’s exit from Parkhead puts him top of a pile which also features Slaven Bilic, Martin Jol, Frank Rijkaard, Steve McClaren and Steve Bruce. But Quinn insists there is no rush to make an appointment. However, he is confident the field will be stronger this time than it was in December when he opted for caretaker Sbragia on a permanent basis.

For Sbragia, life away from the limelight after a “nightmare” end to the season will come as a relief, although he insists he has no regrets about taking the job.

He said: “I could have ducked out of the issue and been happy just being a coach. But when you get a offer to manage Sunderland, you can’t really refuse it.

Sunderland yesterday confirmed they will not be signing French striker Djibril Cisse on a permanent basis. The 27-year-old spent the season on loan at the Stadium of Light from Marseille.