SOCCER:Sunderland and Birmingham City both secured instant returns to the English Premiership yesterday due to Derby County's defeat at Crystal Palace and Sunderland, in the words of their manager Roy Keane, are now intent on making "a mark" in the top division of English football.
Keane is likely to be given around £25m for players, with Sunderland's chairman, Niall Quinn, saying that his manager's ultimate ambition is to turn the Wearside club into "an amazing force again - I don't think he'll settle until he's done that".
To that end the club would ideally like Keane to extend his contract by two years - he signed a three-year deal last August - and, while there have been tentative discussions between the parties, Keane wished to wait until the end of the season.
Keane was out walking Triggs, his famous dog, yesterday when he heard the Derby result. "It's great news for the club," he said. "I'm delighted for the players who have done a fantastic job. I'm also delighted for all the staff who have played such a vital part, the fans who have been tremendous in their support for the team and for Niall and the board, who have been a great support since I arrived."
His commitment to Sunderland will be underlined by his family moving to the North-east in the summer and Quinn's opinion is that Keane's presence will make it easier to progress. "I think now we're an attraction to players," he said. "We can look for more and better players, if that's required and that's what Roy wants. I think some of our players can be stars in the bigger league but that's all down to Roy.
"I'm just happy to provide the structure and foundations to release everything in a positive way, so that we can attempt to get players that otherwise might never have come. Roy will play a huge part in that. If I was still playing, I'd want to play here."
The contrast with this time last year, when Bob Murray was chairman, Kevin Ball was caretaker manager and Sunderland were relegated with a record low points total of 15 has struck everyone. Quinn's Drumaville consortium came in last July and Quinn had a brief spell as manager before Keane arrived at a club with three points in late August.
"I am trying to take this in and enjoy it, but I am also thinking very much about going forward and the people of this city have to realise the role they play," said Quinn.
"Looking back at what Roy and his staff have put together in such a short space of time, it's amazing, they are brilliant people. I will celebrate with a bottle of champagne tonight with my wife and family."
Promotion was greeted with unbridled joy on Wearside, where minds are already turning to the derby clashes with Newcastle and Keane's return to Old Trafford to face the Manchester United side he represented with such distinction for almost 13 years and lock horns with Alex Ferguson.
At Birmingham another former Manchester United captain, Steve Bruce, described promotion as "my greatest achievement in the game". He will feel vindicated after coming close to the sack in the wake of last season's relegation and a rocky beginning to this term. "We have had to rebuild the club. I've bought a squad of young players and I'm so pleased for them. They have been a credit."
Meanwhile, Leeds United Supporters Association chairman Ray Fell has called for fans found guilty of invading the pitch at Elland Road on Saturday to be banned. Several hundred supporters spilled on to the pitch and forced a 30-minute delay at the end of Leeds' last home match of the season against Ipswich which ended in a 1-1 draw and left the Yorkshire club as good as relegated.
Guardian Service
