Recently by Luke Edwards

NIALL Quinn is not predicting a major overhaul of the Sunderland squad as new manager Steve Bruce looks to tinker with the side following last season's unexpected brush with relegation.

Quinn insists he is relaxed about the Black Cats' lack of progress in the transfer market so far this summer, as he warned fans not to expect large numbers of new arrivals.

Although the Wearsiders are looking to strengthen in every area of the side, a new centre-back, a creative midfielder and a centre-forward are their main priority, with the first team due to return for pre-season training in just under a week's time. And Sunderland's chairman believes it will be the character of the players, as much as their talent, which will determine whether they are signed by Bruce.

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NIALL Quinn has never planned to fail as Sunderland chairman, but he will also never fail to plan for the worst as the Black Cats look to finally establish themselves as a Premier League force.

Quinn is hoping the appointment of Steve Bruce as the Wearsiders go into their third successive season in the top flight will ensure they no longer have to spend the majority of the campaign fearing relegation.

However, despite Sunderland's ambition, Quinn will not suddenly start to operate beyond his means as he refuses to put the club's long-term future at risk pursuing unrealistic objectives.

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NIALL Quinn believes Sunderland's bid to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup is just part of his ongoing drive to take the club on to a higher level.

Quinn helped officially launch the quest to be part of the FA's 2018 bid yesterday as he urged everyone in the region to back the separate bids being made by Sunderland and Newcastle in the hope that both would make the cut.

A total of 15 English cities have expressed an interest in hosting games should the FA win the bidding process and Quinn is as determined to help Sunderland become one of them as he is to ensure the football club continues to progress in the Premier League.

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SUNDERLAND are prepared to launch a fourth attempt to sign Reading's Irish international midfielder Stephen Hunt, despite repeatedly failing to persuade him to move to Wearside.

Hunt has been a long-standing Black Cats target and was top of Roy Keane's wanted list at one stage as he looked to add some much-needed creativity to a pedestrian midfield.

However, relations between the two clubs slowly soured as Reading reacted angrily to what they believed to be deliberately underhand attempts to unsettle the winger, to such an extent that they refused to do business with the Wearsiders last summer.

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NYRON Nosworthy and Danny Collins have much work to do if they are to prove themselves to new Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, but Calum Davenport's hopes of a permanent move to the Stadium of Light are already over.

Bruce has made the signing of a new centre-back his first priority in the transfer market with Wigan's Titus Bramble, Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin and Manchester City's Richard Dunne all heavily linked with a move to the Black Cats since he took charge just over a fortnight ago.

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NIALL Quinn has challenged Anton Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson to develop into full England internationals under Steve Bruce.

Quinn has singled the pair out as two who will benefit from Bruce's arrival at Sunderland as he underlined his determination to keep them at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats did not realise their potential last season and while Ferdinand and Richardson were two of the better players over the course of a difficult campaign, Quinn believes they have plenty more to offer.

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TITUS Bramble would relish the opportunity to follow Steve Bruce from Wigan to Sunderland despite his chequered past at Newcastle United.

Bramble was often ridiculed by Black Cats fans during his four years at United because of a series of high-profile mistakes which tarnished his reputation and made him a source of national amusement.

However, the centre-back has been a revelation during two years at Wigan Athletic and was voted both player and supporters' player of the year last season after a superb individual campaign.

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When it comes to Steve Bruce, Sunderland supporters should just be pleased they are getting a good manager rather than worrying about which team he supposedly supported four decades ago.

Steve Bruce is a Newcastle fan. Well he is when it suits him. Like when he is touting himself for the manager's job at St James's Park, but he didn't exactly shout it from the rooftops when he was playing for Manchester United did he?!

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The good news for Sunderland in this dark, relegation haunted time is Ellis Short has decided to take full control of the club no matter what division the Black Cats are in next season. Now that is a comforting thought.

The American's millions are like a warm, reassuring hug from your mum after a nightmare.

Whether his money is needed to help soften the financial disaster of relegation or fund another bold recruitment drive in the Premier League, he is, according to Niall Quinn, absolutely vital if the club is going to have any chance of realising its ambition.

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MÁRTON Fülöp has warned Sunderland they are dicing with death as he condemned the standard of their recent performances and questioned the team's attitude in a relegation battle.

Fülöp has been angered by the Black Cats' failure to pull clear of the Premier League danger zone following a run of just one win in their last 10 games.

And the Hungarian claimed all their brave talk had proved to be cheap following the 2-0 home defeat by Everton.

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