Quinn raps PFA over priorities

NIALL QUINN has accused the Professional Footballers’ Association of getting their priorities all wrong, and admitted football has a big problem with its attitude to mental health in the wake of Gary Speed’s death.

The former Sunderland chairman, who now leads international development at the club, argued the body should spend much less time on cases like Carlos Tevez and invest a lot more in tackling the deeper, day-to-day problems of many of its members.

“Our union [the PFA] sent a book [on mental health] out to everybody last week. What’s that about?,” he said

“I think they should do an awful lot more than that. They’re a very wealthy organisation. They back people like Tevez for doing what he did [refusing to warm up for Manchester City] and protect him and say he shouldn’t be fined and then send a book out.

“I wish they’d fined Tevez and gone out to the people [that need help]. Because this depression that kicks in, it doesn’t just kick in in the Premier League. I think they should do an awful lot more than go on telly saying they sent books out.

“It’s funny. I’ve chatted about this all week with people since Gary’s death and certain things were pointed out to me, the amount of marriages that break down when football careers are over, bankruptcy.

“I think the rugby people do it better. I met one of the rugby administrators that told me they have a five-year plan towards the end of rugby players’ careers. They follow a path to guide them to life after the final whistle and football doesn’t do that.”

Selection dilemma

Although Quinn was actually in Ireland yesterday to talk about more positive news like the 10th year of the Dublin Bus School Children’s Art Competition, he did also reflect on Ireland’s first qualification in a decade as well as a new era for Sunderland. In fact, Quinn believes his club’s Irish players could well create a few dilemmas for Giovanni Trapattoni over the coming months because of the potential impact of Martin O’Neill.

“We believe we’ve got some very good players there and things just went a little bit off kilter [under Steve Bruce]. We believe Martin is brilliantly placed to bring all that back.

“It’s almost as if there’s a ball of energy around him. Hopefully everyone will feed off that now. He brings an incredible pedigree and enthusiasm. If the players can use that they’ll all reach their own level and we’ll be a far better team.”

Primarily, Quinn thinks that Keiren Westwood could give Shay Given cause for concern in goals. But he also feels that David Meyler and, more surprisingly, James McClean – recently signed from Derry City – can emerge as outside challengers for a squad place.

“Keiren has been excellent. His signing kind of went under the radar this summer because it was on Bosman. But he has been absolutely excellent and everybody at Sunderland is thrilled. I think Martin even saw it for himself at the weekend how well he played. He’s a talker, he’s energetic.

“Shay is a great old friend of mine and he’ll welcome this but this guy is going to put a lot of pressure on him in the next six months.

“It’s there for [Meyler too]... what Martin will enjoy about David is his enthusiasm, his strength, his passing has come on leaps and bounds, his energy levels. James is a really hard-working, intelligent guy. The first week he came he absolutely bowled Steve Bruce over with his attitude and he will do the exact same for Martin O’Neill.”

Quinn also admitted Sunderland had a serious look at Shane Long before West Brom bid for him, with that interest reflecting the fact Trapattoni has more difficult decisions than even Jack Charlton did. “What Shane Long is doing this year is immense... there’s probably more options now. There’s some real optimism out there.”