Quinn: Black Cats relegation would have been my fault

NIALL QUINN has admitted he would have blamed himself had his big Sunderland gamble not paid off.

The Irishman took a risk when he appointed Ricky Sbragia as Roy Keane’s successor after seeing him fulfil the role of caretaker to the letter.

However, as the Black Cats slipped inexorably towards the relegation zone, Quinn started to fear the worst.

He said: “I felt had things not worked out and had Ricky not got over the line, I was culpable. Culpable for what people would have perceived – what they are saying about the Newcastle players, for instance, and what they are saying about the Middlesbrough players.

“Was it my fault? I sanctioned all those deals. You start doubting yourself and you keep very much to yourself.

“Socially, I was non-existent, I just wanted to be on my own all the time for those last eight weeks. Self-doubts creep in.”

Ultimately, the Black Cats retained their top-flight status despite a final-day defeat by Chelsea.

Sbragia stood down within minutes of the season’s conclusion and just days later, American businessman Ellis Short confirmed his decision to buy out the Drumaville consortium.

His ambition and that of his chairman persuaded Steve Bruce to take on a new challenge and rewarded Quinn for his boldness.

The Irishman said: “Look, it was a gamble – I admit it was a gamble, but it’s a gamble that paid off.

“I understand the consequences if it went wrong, but that’s why I am in the position I am and that’s why I have to make the decisions I do. It worked this time, so now I have got to take advantage of that. Ricky has given me the opportunity to take advantage of that, and I am thrilled that Steve has agreed to come and drive it on now.”

Having seen the club invest almost £80million in the playing squad over the last two summers with mixed results, Short is ready to bankroll another recruitment drive.

Quinn said: “What I would say is he hopes we will be clever enough to trade intelligently, and as long as he feels we are doing it intelligently – and Steve has a great track record at this point – he will back us to a point that makes sense.”

“Ellis has a serious track record of improving assets, and it’s not by being foolish. It is by being smart and we have to show we can trade properly and build this club’s strength up.”

Quinn fully expects Steve Bruce’s recruitment policy – Sbragia has will head up that wing of the club’s operations on his return from holiday – to follow very definite lines.

He said: “I agree with something Steve said 100%, that you have to be a certain kind of player to perform in the north-east.

“There is a casualty list of players who look good on paper who have come to this region and it hasn’t happened for them. It may have happened at other places, and you do need a special temperament.

“But I just get the feeling that Steve Bruce’s troops, his scouts in the field, they ain’t looking for the fella who is going to make the back page headlines and every club in the land will chase.

“They are looking for the guy who will stick his chest out and become a player, and if you put ability on top of that, then we could have a proper Sunderland player in the making.”

Meanwhile, Wigan owner Dave Whelan is confident that a deal to bring Roberto Martinez as manager to the club will be concluded this morning. The Latics were yesterday given permission to speak to their former midfielder after agreeing a compensation package with Championship outfit Swansea.