Quinn gets Black Cats ready for Hammers

Sunderland player-coach Niall Quinn is to concentrate on getting his team-mates in the right frame of mind for the next match at home to West Ham following the sacking of manager Peter Reid.

As Quinn and his Stadium of Light team-mates come to terms with Reid’s departure the former Republic of Ireland striker believes they have to be professional.

After admitting he was shocked at Reid’s departure Quinn was quick to take on the responsibility placed on him and fellow coach Ricky Sbragia by chairman Bob Murray who dismissed Reid’s backroom staff during yesterday’s clear-out at the Wearside club.

But Quinn was also quick to point out he had no designs on taking over from Reid on a permanent basis.

“There’s nothing wonderful or amazing about that, I just want to get the lads physically and mentally prepared,” Quinn told BBC Radio Five Live.

“There is going to be a new era at the football club. I understand we will have a new manager before the West Ham game.”

But despite his determination to get over the shock as quickly as possible Quinn admitted Reid’s departure had come as a surprise.

He said: “The whole club’s devastated. We’re feeling very sombre at the moment.”

Quinn also admitted the players had to take some of the responsibility for Reid’s sacking.

“Deep down we know we are the ones responsible.

“We are getting everyone mentally toned up for when the new regime takes over. We’ve just been charged with making sure they are as right as possible. As soon as we’ve got them running around and scoring goals in training it’s different, but it’s still a very sombre atmosphere here.

“You look at the people upstairs and they are as disappointed as we are, but we can’t complain, we’re as responsible as anybody. It’s a tough one and I imagine we’re not in as great mental shape as we could be.

“It’s up to us to give an early good account of ourselves on the pitch and off the pitch. Peter Reid, with the dignity he showed, will want players to do their best for the club.”

Quinn also paid tribute to the debt he owed to Reid who was also his manager at former club Manchester City.

“He’s given us careers, given us the opportunity to keep this club up where it belongs. We’ve let him down. He was a very important part of our lives.

“A lot of bad things have happened to me in football. The two things that stand out was Peter Reid being sacked at Manchester City and Peter Reid being sacked at Sunderland. Peter Reid has been very good for my career.

“You could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard, it was a horrible feeling.”

Quinn also stressed that Black Cats fans knew Reid had done well for the club.

“It won’t take long for the most ardent fans to admit Peter Reid was a fantastic manager of this football club,” said Quinn.

“He won’t be hoping Sunderland’s new manager comes in and we get beat.”