Quinn keeping cards close to his chest

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn is furious that news he was in talks with Roy Keane over the manager's position had leaked out and would not confirm that his former Republic of Ireland team-mate is in line to get the job.

Quinn revealed on Tuesday evening following the Carling Cup defeat to Bury that he was in discussions with a "world-class manager" and hoped to have him in place before the game against West Brom on Monday.

News that the man in question was the former Manchester United midfielder then came out late on Wednesday evening, much to Quinn's annoyance.

Quinn was therefore reluctant to discuss the situation at a press conference this morning but said: "We are in negotiations with someone who has not yet said yes and has not said no. That's all I can tell you. Nothing has collapsed but nothing has been finalised either."

Quinn did not refer to Keane by name but added that the would-be manager "will be a world-class attraction any club would be proud to have".

He added: "We are still confident that it is on track and there is an outside chance the new man could be in charge for Monday's game."

Keane's former boss at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson, is surprised at the timing of the Cork man's move into management but warned it won't be an easy one.

As recently as May, Ferguson was talking in glowing terms about Keane's potential as a manager.

However, he has warned the 35-year-old the job is much tougher than it was when he entered the management game over three decades ago.

"It is a bit earlier than I thought but, in football, sometimes tomorrow never comes," Ferguson said.

"This opportunity has come up and, if he is taking it, that thought is maybe uppermost in his mind.

"You don't want to be out of the game too long, which is the same advice I received when I quit playing. Sunderland are a club with a great history. They have a fantastic support base, a good stadium and, apparently, they have a fantastic training ground.

"Everything is there but it won't be easy because no management job is these days because of the media, the agents and the amount of power the players have."

Richard Dunne is another man surprised that former international colleagues Keane and Quinn are close to working together again.

Dunne was part of the Republic of Ireland World Cup squad four years ago when Keane left Saipan in such controversial circumstances.

Knowing both men well, Dunne feels the Wearsiders can only benefit if Keane and Quinn have patched up their differences, although he did acknowledge he was stunned when he heard the news.

"I am a bit surprised," said the Manchester City skipper.

"Obviously, it is something that happened four years ago but it seems, if they did have a rift, they have worked things out for the benefit of themselves and Sunderland.

"The two of them are great professionals and they know what they want.

"Niall seems to be getting the right group of people together up there and Roy definitely has the potential to be a very good manager, so it should be a good partnership."  Agencies