Sunderland need onfield leaders says Quinn

Jul 4 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

AS Steve Bruce closes in on what he hopes will be his first signing as Sunderland manager, chairman Niall Quinn has challenged him to find the leaders who can drive the squad forward.

The Wearsiders have been given permission to speak to Tottenham Hotspur’s Darren Bent about a move and while the striker is an England international, he is not the kind of dominant personality Quinn is anxious to see in red and white.

For a long time the Black Cats have lacked the kind of vocal captain Quinn played under at the Stadium of Light, when Kevin Ball was skipper. The Irishman believes someone of that ilk would not only lead the team but also bring out similar qualities in others.

Quinn singled out Anton Ferdinand, Andy Reid and Kieran Richardson, all of whom wore the armband at times last season, as the players who could benefit most.

“Everybody points to Kevin Ball. He led the place in my time here, an exceptional character,” said Quinn. “But that breeds three or four others. We just didn’t quite have that last year. I’m looking forward to people like Andy Reid becoming men this year. I hope it happens. I hope we bring in one or two people

and that sparks and others up their game, up their responsibility levels and up their opinions of themselves, more than anything.

“I think when Anton Ferdinand matures, he’s got the opportunity to become an international footballer for England. Kieran Richardson can have a brilliant career if he steps up that maturity level. And it doesn’t happen because you talk to them, it happens because they see it around them. There are a couple of others who can go a lot further than they have done and that’s what our task is this year.

“If Andy can get back into the Ireland team, if Anton and Kieran get international caps, nobody will be happier than me. They won’t be pulled out because of injuries or stuff like that – we’ll be pushing them out of the door to try and drive their careers forward.”

Ball remains a presence at the Academy of Light, where he coaches the club’s youngsters. But his style of leadership, once commonplace in the English game, is rare in these days of multilingual squads.

Having been one such captain himself, Bruce should be well placed to recognise the qualities needed. One of his leading transfer targets is Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne, who it is hoped would bring the best out of Ferdinand. Rumours of Ferdinand moves to various London clubs have been a theme of the summer but the centre-back has regularly reiterated his commitment to Sunderland.

Reid had a difficult 2008-09, failing to hold down a regular place in the Black Cats team and made an outcast by Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni because he does not conform to the Italian’s physical ideals.

Quinn’s comments are less than promising for Dean Whitehead, Sunderland’s current captain. Although the chairman’s desire for leaders would not preclude him from retaining the armband, they are hardly a ringing endorsement for someone who upset supporters last season with his outspoken criticism of them, and who has been linked with a move to Stoke.

Bent’s arrival is far from a formality, with Sunderland yet to agree a fee with Spurs for a forward they have long admired.

The 25-year-old had a curious campaign at White Hart Lane last term, comfortably finishing as the club’s top scorer yet never entirely sure of his place. When he missed an easy chance to win January’s game against Portsmouth, manager Harry Redknapp told the Press: “My missus could have scored that.”

With Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane re-signed in the winter, Bent’s Spurs days appear numbered but having paid £16.5m for the ex-Chartlon player, they will be reluctant to let him go cheaply, particularly with Aston Villa also interested. Meanwhile, Wolves have completed the signing of Sunderland utility man Greg Halford for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal with an option for a further 12 months.

“I’m really excited about moving down to Wolves,” said Halford. “It is going to be an exciting season for the club going into the Premier League and hopefully we can push on and establish ourselves in the division.

“Wolves are obviously a big club and the infrastructure is all there.”