A new era is beginning at the Stadium of Light. Mark Douglas assesses the fall-out of Niall Quinn’s sideways move
THEY are emphasising the positives and stressing that this is evolution rather than revolution, but it is difficult to escape the feeling that a new day is dawning at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland are at a crossroads and while the noises coming from Wearside since Monday’s boardroom reshuffle are encouraging, only time will tell how profound the effect of Niall Quinn’s change of role will be.
For all the reassurances, this is a major move from an owner of which we still know little. No wonder the natives aren’t entirely sure what to think.
Quinn gave a wide-ranging interview with a long-time journalist friend yesterday morning that was typically forthright and fascinating – no doubt cooling some of the fears expressed supporters already troubled by a schizophrenic start to the season.
He ridiculed a link with Manchester City and spoke passionately of an enduring love for Sunderland.
He insists that there will be little disruption to the club and on Ellis Short’s behalf, assured the supporters that they are in safe hands.
And it was difficult not to be impressed by a man who has advanced the Black Cat cause considerably since wrestling control of the club from Bob Murray in 2006. But among all the promises of a bright future and building for the next decade, one question continues to go unanswered: why now?
Quinn tells us change has been on the cards since January which makes a mid-season change somewhat puzzling – just as Ellis Short’s move to front-of-house operations jars slightly with his reluctance to give interviews.
Few other Premier League owners operate without a Quinn-type figure, and it remains to be seen whether Short’s chairmanship will be a permanent arrangement or whether when the dust has settled he seeks out another senior management figure to help run the club on his behalf.
With the eminently impressive Margaret Byrne as Chief Executive, there is little need to do that in the short-term.
