Bruce handed vote of confidence from Quinn despite slide towards relegation

12 March 2010 12:06
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has given his full backing to manager Steve Bruce and insisted he will not be sacked even if the club are relegated this season. [LNB]Tuesday's 4-0 win over Bolton relieved the pressure on Bruce considerably after 14 games without a win. Sunderland moved up four places to 13th and are now six points off the drop zone. [LNB]The win was also played out in front of American owner Ellis Short and Quinn is insistent that pair, who will reveal £26million losses next week, have never wavered in their support for the manager appointed last summer. [LNB] Welcome relief: Darren Bent scores during Tuesday night's win over Bolton (above) and now Niall Quinn has revealed Black Cats manager Steve Bruce (bottom left) has the backing of Sunderland owner Ellis Short (bottom right)[LNB]Quinn said: 'I can assure you now that even if we don't win another game between now and the end of the season, Steve Bruce will be manager here next year. Even if we go down, he'll be the manager. [LNB]'He shares the same passion the fans have, the owner has, we all have and he does it in a diligent way. The way he carries himself and projects our club is everything we wanted. [LNB]'We're trying to make a step up in the toughest league in the world and we know it's going to take guts and determination and hard work aligned with other stuff like a good transfer policy, getting things right tactically and in terms of motivation. [LNB]'The pressure in the Premier League is incredible and there were some tough knock-backs during the run but we think he's the right man to get this club where we all want it. It was a tough period but Steve played a blinder throughout it. [LNB]'He knew he was coming to a big club, he felt it was a step up in his career and he'd done his apprenticeship, worked his ticket elsewhere and made good success stories. He knew the pressure was probably a little greater here, but there's been nothing like feeling it and living it for the six or eight months.'[LNB]Short met Bruce and the Sunderland players at the club training ground on Wednesday. [LNB]The board may have introduced contract clauses for a 40 per cent wage reduction if they are relegated, but Quinn said the message from the London-based businessman was positive. [LNB]He added: 'The players know they have to keep to that standard and that was one of the messages Ellis gave them. He said 'I'm delighted with how you played the other night but I'm not here to pat you on the back about it, I'm here to tell you everyone expects it in the next ten games'. [LNB]'The players agreed with that. It was a good chat. He knows about the area more than most people and he's only been here for a few months.'[LNB] THE FIRING LINE: A Law unto himself - Burnley boss Brian Laws knocks Steve Bruce off the top of our list of managers for the chopSunderland 4 Bolton 0: Bent treble takes the heat off boss BruceBent is as good as Rooney! Black Cats star is among very best, claims AntonSUNDERLAND FC

Source: Daily_Mail