Unlike Bruce, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said he foresaw a situation with Bent after noticing a change in his demeanour."I had an inkling," he told Kildare TV on Wednesday."Darren's a terrific guy; he's been great for us as he's done loads of work for the club over and beyond just playing football. He's bubbly, he's always on form."[But] I could tell there was something up with him, that he was not right."It transpired that they [Villa] were setting him up. They tempted him and he took the bait. It's hugely disappointing for us, and when the transfer request came in that probably was the final nail. We could have tried to stop it, but we heard he was already down there."It was really difficult. A real tough one for us to accept.
Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, has warned the days of heavy investment in transfer fees will be over if attendances continue to dwindle at the Stadium of Light.A crowd of only 35,101 watched Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory over Bolton, about 13,000 below capacity, despite Steve Bruce's team being unbeaten at home in the league so far this season, a run that has lifted them to sixth.While Quinn acknowledges the ongoing financial difficulties for some supporters, he claims many are watching games illegally in pubs accessing foreign television channels and the former striker is concerned about the implications.Indeed, the chairman said he would no longer be able to argue a case for the owner, Ellis Short, to fund the kind of deals that brought the record £13m signing, Asamoah Gyan, or his £10m strike partner, Darren Bent, to Wearside if the figures do not add up.Quinn told the Sunderland Echo: "The plan was always to improve and while we are doing that on the pitch, off the pitch the lifeblood of the club is just starting to get to a worrying area."I am not here to be the guardian angel of the club and protect it at all costs. We have to be realistic and it would be a shame to start downsizing. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I recommended that we should be paying big sums for players and the people weren't supporting the club."I know through my time as a player that you do better with bigger houses and it's a better occasion all-round. I thought if we were in the top half of the Premier League, we would be getting crowds well into the 40,000s. The reality is we are in the mid-30s."I am not having a go at people who are economically challenged, but I know there are friends of mine who say it's easier to go to the pub and have a few drinks with their mates and walk home afterwards. But these games are shown illegally."I don't want to alarm people but, for me, there are a few question marks. I'm not saying we are perfect, but I always thought I could rely on the support of a massive crowd."
Fistface has been bleating that apparently that nasty Mr Houllier didn't phone him up first. He sounds like a spotty teenager left at home while his popular ex-girlfriend is getting fingered by the school rugby captain.
I think Sunderland fans need to cast their minds back to before Christmas (22nd December to be exact) to understand that the writing was on the wall:QuoteNiall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, has warned the days of heavy investment in transfer fees will be over if attendances continue to dwindle at the Stadium of Light.A crowd of only 35,101 watched Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory over Bolton, about 13,000 below capacity, despite Steve Bruce's team being unbeaten at home in the league so far this season, a run that has lifted them to sixth.While Quinn acknowledges the ongoing financial difficulties for some supporters, he claims many are watching games illegally in pubs accessing foreign television channels and the former striker is concerned about the implications.Indeed, the chairman said he would no longer be able to argue a case for the owner, Ellis Short, to fund the kind of deals that brought the record £13m signing, Asamoah Gyan, or his £10m strike partner, Darren Bent, to Wearside if the figures do not add up.Quinn told the Sunderland Echo: "The plan was always to improve and while we are doing that on the pitch, off the pitch the lifeblood of the club is just starting to get to a worrying area."I am not here to be the guardian angel of the club and protect it at all costs. We have to be realistic and it would be a shame to start downsizing. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I recommended that we should be paying big sums for players and the people weren't supporting the club."I know through my time as a player that you do better with bigger houses and it's a better occasion all-round. I thought if we were in the top half of the Premier League, we would be getting crowds well into the 40,000s. The reality is we are in the mid-30s."I am not having a go at people who are economically challenged, but I know there are friends of mine who say it's easier to go to the pub and have a few drinks with their mates and walk home afterwards. But these games are shown illegally."I don't want to alarm people but, for me, there are a few question marks. I'm not saying we are perfect, but I always thought I could rely on the support of a massive crowd."
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Topic: The hypocrisy of Steve Bruce (Read 31826 times)
