Quinn explains Sbragia choice

Jan 6 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

NIALL Quinn has decided to publicly explain his reasons for appointing Ricky Sbragia as Sunderland manager despite interest from a number of higher profile candidates.

The Black Cats were widely expected to appoint former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, who was out of the work at the time and desperate to take the job. But the board instead elected to promote from within, with Quinn indicating that Sbragia’s natural affinity to the club was a major factor in his thinking.

Although Sbragia, who had been reserve team manager under former boss Roy Keane, had done well in a caretaker role, the decision to offer him the job permanently still caught many people by surprise.

But Quinn is confident the former member of Allardyce’s backroom team at Bolton is the right man for the job after revealing most of those who had applied for the vacancy had no experience of managing in the Premier League.

“This was a decision reached by the Executive Board after we had looked at the entire range of candidates over a two to three-week period and on what we were seeing day-to-day from Ricky and his staff,” said Quinn, who is aware the global economic downturn has had an impact on the club’s key financial backers in Ireland.

“You’ll have read there were lots of applicants for the job,

but there were very few with Premier League experience. We had people who had won league titles in the Far East, South America and other far-flung places, but we felt that was a risk too far.”

Quinn also admitted that while Sbragia – who has won three out of six games since he succeeded Keane – was publicly keen to play down his interest in taking on the manager’s job full time, he was giving a rather different impression behind the scenes.

Indeed, after the star quality sprinkled on the club during Keane’s high-profile stint in the manager’s chair, it seems the board may have made a deliberate decision to seek a less glamorous appointment.

However, given the ever increasing effects of the recession, there is also a suggestion financial considerations also prompted Quinn to seek a safe pair of hands who was able to work within the constraints of a far tighter budget than the lavish one enjoyed by his predecessor.

He said: “We were taken aback by Ricky’s composure and calming influence. Despite being publicly coy about his role during his temporary tenure it was obvious that Ricky was relishing the role.

“His coaching and tactical ability became pretty obvious and his knowledge of a wide range of managerial matters; such as the economics required in the modern game and the harmony needed between the football and business side of the club, combined with his ambition to move the club towards the top half of the table impressed us tremendously.

“Also, we took he view that his demeanour will not be fazed in pressurised times. All these things added together made us believe that offering Ricky the role full time is the correct choice.”

Meanwhile, Sbragia is keen to keep French full-back Pascal Chimbonda, despite intense speculation the former Tottenham player will return to Spurs during this January transfer window.

While the 29-year-old has got himself into trouble for poor time-keeping – a shortcoming he also infuriated Keane with following his summer move to Wearside – since Sbragia took over, the Black Cats boss does not want to lose any defenders this month as it is the one area of the side he fears they lack numbers.

Whether that will be enough to persuade Chimbonda he should stay with Sunderland remains to be seen as The Journal understands he has already sought assurances from Sbragia he will get more first-team football than he did in the latter period of Keane’s reign.

:: SUNDERLAND’S Barclays Premier Reserve League game away to Liverpool tonight is subject to a pitch inspection this morning.