Ricky Sbragia position will be under review at end of season

Mar 20 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

With the club looking to progress again in the summer with Short’s financial backing, everything is under scrutiny at the Stadium of Light, but Quinn is still happy with the impact Sbragia has had as a safe pair of hands following the sudden departure of Keane.

Quinn said: “What Roy Keane did was massive. If you go back three years before Roy came, this place was on its knees with a player valuation next to zero and that is being respectful, you know, it is just the way things have happened.

“We knew what we needed when he left, and regardless of what people say, we were in the bottom three, going nowhere fast, losing games at home with tough games coming up and Ricky calmed the waters and got us to where we are.”

And Quinn is also confident Sbragia is happy with the pressure he is under to back his case to stay in the manager’s chair beyond the end of this season.

He added: “He doesn’t have agents telling him he should be doing this and that. He is level headed and a straight guy who has been perfect for the club in this period because now it is about football and results will speak for themselves.

“There is no point telling people the future. We have got to see what the future is. Ricky is very open-minded, I am open-minded.”