March 2009 Archives
NIALL Quinn has sent out one final plea to Sunderland fans to show their support for the club's ambition by backing its cut-price season ticket offer.
The Black Cats chairman revealed "several thousand" new fans have already signed up for season tickets, but the Irishman is determined to get even more supporters on board before Friday's deadline.
NIALL QUINN says Ricky Sbragia will be given money to spend in the summer to transform Sunderland into a top-10 side.
Sunderland are still working towards securing top-flight survival in the final eight games of this season, but already boss Sbragia is running the rule over potential transfer targets.
SUNDERLAND supporters have been asked to relax and allow the team to flourish under pressure by someone who has swapped the Stadium of Light terraces for its pitch.
Grant Leadbitter is unique among the Black Cats' senior players in that he used to regularly watch the team as a fan, so can under stand the anxiety of those who spend their cash following the side.
RICKY SBRAGIA says Sunderland's summer recruitment drive will be as meticulously planned as any team in the Premier League - as he prepares to complete the second part of his European scouting mission this week.
Sbragia was at Bosnia's game in Belgium this weekend, and this week he will be at Germany's World Cup qualifier with Wales - where he will run the rule over summer transfer target Joe Ledley.
CHAIRMAN Niall Quinn insists he will stay on Wearside for the long haul if new owner Ellis Short completes his takeover of the club.
Quinn fronted the Ireland-based Drumaville consortium's takeover three years ago and is now overseeing the handover of power to American billionaire Short, who already has a 30 per cent shareholding, and is considering upping that stake to the 51 per cent which would give him a controlling interest.
ANTHONY Stokes' international career has received a timely boost at the expense of Sunderland team-mate Daryl Murphy, following his shock call-up by the Republic of Ireland.
While Murphy was expressing his unhappiness at the way he has been treated by Eire's Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday, Stokes was on his way to link up with the national side following the withdrawal of the injured Newcastle winger Damien Duff.
FORMER Sunderland boss Len Ashurst has called for referees to be more accountable for their decisions and explain controversial calls in public.
Ashurst, who spent 14 months in charge of the Black Cats in the 1980s as well as playing more than 450 games for the club over a 12-year period, says today's professional referees should be available for post-match press conferences just as managers are.
DARYL MURPHY says he has no idea why he has been axed by Ireland for the current round of World Cup qualifiers.
Despite being a regular in the Republic of Ireland set-up in recent times, the Sunderland frontman has been left out of the squad which takes on Bulgaria in Dublin tomorrow and then heads to Bari to take on holders Italy.
SUNDERLAND are continuing to monitor Darren Bent's situation at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a possible summer bid for the striker.
The Black Cats have been interested in the Spurs forward since last summer and, with Djibril Cissé's long-term future at the Stadium of Light far from certain, the former Charlton star remains firmly on the radar.
RICKY SBRAGIA believes Carlos Edwards' pace can be a potent weapon for Sunderland in the Premier League run-in.
Winger Edwards has shown signs in recent weeks of recapturing his best form, and Sbragia praised his performance in the Black Cats' 1-0 defeat at Man City at the weekend.
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