McAteer completes Sunderland switch
Friday, 19 October 2001 19:15Jason McAteer has completed his transfer to Sunderland this afternoon for an undisclosed sum to bring to an end his nightmare at Blackburn Rovers. McAteer will join up with his new team-mates, including fellow Irish internationals Niall Quinn and Kevin Kilbane, this weekend and is expected to make his debut for his new club during Monday's big derby match at Middlesbrough.
The 30-year-old has been keen to leave Blackburn since falling out of favour with manager Graeme Souness in April, but Souness denied suggestions that a rift had developed between the pair. The former Rangers and Liverpool boss insists suggestions of a rift were just mischief making and that he has no problem with McAteer. Souness claims he has not been picking McAteer, who cost Rovers £4million from Liverpool in January 1999, for footballing reasons only.
He insisted: "I like Macca. I like him as a man. If he were to leave here, I would wish him well. He's not caused me a minute's problem since he has been here. I can understand why he's not happy here. He wants to be in the team, but I feel we are particularly strong down the right-hand side. Apart from wanting to be in the team here, he knows the World Cup is looming. He knows he has a real chance of going to Korea and Japan, but he has to be starting somewhere so I can understand his decision."
However, whatever the real situation between McAteer and Souness, it is now in the past as his new manager Peter Reid is delighted to have secured McAteer's signature. "I've been a fan of Jason since he was at Bolton and I was City boss," Reid told Sunderland's official website. "He's a player I rate very highly and he'll have no problem settling in here."
McAteer himself was thrilled that the move had finally gone through. "It's a wonderful setting to play your football and it's well known how good the Sunderland fans are. It's been frustrating for me because I've known of Sunderland's interest for a while. I'm glad it's finally gone through. A number of clubs were interested but I wanted to come here. I'm looking forward to pulling on the shirt and playing," he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
