Quinn: faith in Keane

Niall Quinn has given a vote of confidence to Sunderland boss Roy Keane despite the Black Cats' poor form in the Premiership and they're currently languishing at the wrong end of the table.

“We have a young manager who will be brilliant,” Quinn said in The Times.

“There seems to be a panic around the foot of the table, but we won’t be doing that. We will keep learning and being professional.

“It’s incredible what has been happening to managers. We thought it was a bit crazy a couple of years ago with the sackings, but it certainly is now.

“If you give someone the job, they have to be given the chance to see it through and Sammy Lee and Chris Hutchings didn’t get that.

“The Premiership is so vital for clubs. When you’re there and then it goes, there is a danger of your whole club being in trouble because of the wage bill you can be left with.

“It used to be hard, but now it is dreadful and that causes pressure. Three teams are going to burn and three teams will really be in big trouble at the end of the season.

“I feel we are getting structures in place for the long term at Sunderland, but it is a long, slow process of building. It will take time.”