Sunderland promoted to Premiership

Derby's 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace meant the Black Cats and Coca-Cola Championship leaders Birmingham claimed the two automatic promotion places and will vie for the title next weekend.

That is a remarkable achievement for the Wearsiders, who lay second-bottom of the table when 35-year-old Keane accepted chairman Quinn's offer to launch his management career at the Stadium of Light in August.

A run of just one defeat in 19 games, culminating in Friday night's 3-2 fightback victory over Burnley in front of a crowd of 44,448, handed them an estimated cash bonanza of £65million with which to try to establish themselves in the top flight.

A delighted Quinn said: 'It's terrific because everybody played a part, none more so than Roy and the players.

'It shows you that when people put their mind to it and work as a team, you are capable of doing anything.

'It's a terrific time for the people of Sunderland, especially after the season they had last year when they were rock bottom.

'There will be immense pride around the city tonight. I am so pleased for the fans.

'There were times this year when they were the vital part - Derby at home, all those away matches when we had thousands there, even the other night when we were 2-1 down, they roared their team on.

'I am trying to take this in and enjoy it, but I am also thinking very much about going forward and the people of this city have to realise the role they play.

'Looking back at what Roy and his staff have put together in such a short space of time, it's amazing, they are brilliant people.

'I will celebrate with a bottle of champagne tonight with my wife and family.'

Promotion was greeted with unbridled joy on Wearside, where minds are already turning to the derby clashes with Newcastle and Keane's return to Old Trafford to face the Manchester United side he represented with such distinction for almost 13 years and lock horns with Sir Alex Ferguson.

They will head up with much greater optimism than they did the last time they regained their top-flight status as champions under Mick McCarthy in 2005.

McCarthy was handed £10million with which to strengthen his squad and pay his recruits and chose to invest it in 12 players; this time, Keane, armed with a huge cash injection from the new television deal and the backing of Quinn's Drumaville consortium, will be able to shop in a very different market.

Sunderland hurtled out of the Premiership 12 months ago with a record low 15 points having won just three games, and only one of them at home.

But with Quinn, who put together the consortium to buy out former chairman Bob Murray last summer, and Keane rekindling memories of the mission Sir John Hall and Kevin Keegan launched back in 1992 along the road at Newcastle, there is a real buzz in the city again.
The Black Cats finished seventh in the table in their first campaign back in the Premiership in 1999-2000, and it is that sort of impact which is fuelling a new set of dreams.

On that occasion, Peter Reid's side had gone up as champions, and victory at relegated Luton next Sunday coupled with anything less for Birmingham at Preston will hand them the title once again.