NIALL Quinn is one of the few football chairmen to have played professionally, and Steve Bruce a rare example of a manager who considers club finances – yet the Irishman says the pair are not that close.

The former Manchester City centre-forward got well acquainted with the ex-Manchester United centre-back as a player, but denies they are hand-in-glove now.

“We ain’t as close as you might think,” insisted Quinn. “I didn’t like him as a player! It’s not all big pals together.

“But I think him more than anybody linked to the job understands what I think about this club and what is required to get the thing up and going. I don’t have to discuss that with him.

“He sees the same thing as I do. He understands the predicament of the finances and the pressure for me to protect the club. It’s not all about giving Steve Bruce what he wants. There’s give and take on both sides.

“He also understands because I’m a football person there’s no knee-jerk reaction. It would have to be a really long sustained period when the dogs in the street would know he wasn’t the right man (for Bruce to be sacked).

“He wants to know everything about the finances. He’s not one of those people who’ll say it’s got nothing to do with him and just give you a list of names to sign, he understands the whole inside engine of the club and wants to play his part in servicing it properly. We understand the team spirit and the type of person he is, we think he’s perfect for what we’re trying to get into our dressing room.”