Source: Eurosport
Sbragia thanks Quinn for chance
Departing Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia admits he would probably not have taken the job in the first place if it had not been Niall Quinn offering it.
He was handed the reins in December following a successful four-game spell as caretaker, but won only three of the 19 league games the club played after his appointment.
Sbragia was a reluctant recruit to the cause, and has revealed only Quinn could have talked him into it, saying: "If it had been somebody else, I probably wouldn't have taken the job, if it wasn't for Niall speaking to me and having a chat and looking to the future."
He added: "This is what he wanted to build and I always through we were good enough to stay in the Premier League.
"I never dreamt we would be in this situation on the last day, but all my decisions have been for Sunderland Football Club.
"I have been here as a coach many years, but we have got to kick on, we have got to make another appointment and I am really looking forward to next year."
Sbragia, who is now expected to play a role in player recruitment at the club, decided to call it a day in order to allow the club to draft in a bigger name once American tycoon Ellis Short completes his buy-out later this week.
However, he insists he has no regrets about taking the job.
He said: "No, not at all. I could have ducked out of the issue and been happy just being a coach. But when you get an offer to manage Sunderland Football Club, you can't really refuse it, to be honest with you.
"I tried my best - my record in wins and losses hasn't been the best, but we have stayed in the Premier League and that's what it is all about."