Quinn fated to return to Black Cats
Tuesday, 4 July 2006 09:06Niall Quinn marched back into the Stadium of Light admitting he knew all along he would return one day.
The 39-year-old former Sunderland striker launched his consortium's formal bid to take over the club last year as he returned to Wearside to take care of unfinished business.
Quinn was part of the side which twice finished seventh in the Barclays Premiership under Peter Reid, and having seen the club plummet back into the Coca-Cola Championship for the second time since his retirement through injury, is determined to restore its fortunes.
He said: '(Vice-chairman) John Fickling will be good enough to admit that the day I left this club was the day I made up my mind that there was something to come back to here one day.'
The consortium's offer for the club is conditional on a 90% take-up by shareholders, although they have already received undertakings on 72.59%, including former chairman Bob Murray's 56.8% stake.
They now have 21 days in which to secure the remaining shares, although Quinn, who will be installed at the helm at the end of that period, has already started the search for a new manager.
Sunderland currently have debts of around £40million and, having been relegated from the Premiership with a record points low of just 15 at the end of last season, are in drastic need of help.
Quinn confirmed there will be signings, but not until the manager is in place - he declined to comment on speculation that Martin O'Neill is his main target.
