SOCCER NEWS:NIALL QUINN has admitted football has a big problem with its attitude to mental health in the wake of Gary Speed's death, and he criticised the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) in England for its failure to prioritise the issue.

The former Sunderland chairman, who now leads international development at the club, argued the body should be doing much more to help troubled players rather than getting so involved in cases like that of Carlos Tevez at Manchester City.

“Our union sent a book (on mental health) out to everybody last week. What’s that about? I think they should do an awful lot more than that. They’re a very wealthy organisation.

“They back people like Tevez for doing what he did (refusing to warm up for Manchester City) and protect him and say he shouldn’t be fined and then send a book out.

“I wish they’d fined Tevez and gone out to the people. Because this depression that kicks in, it doesn’t just kick in in the Premier League. It kicks in in the fourth tier, the third tier, the championship, our own level.

“And it doesn’t just manifest itself the day somebody quits. It could be two years, three years, four years after. And I think they should do an awful lot more than go on telly saying they sent books out.

“It’s funny. I’ve chatted about this all week with people since Gary’s death and certain things were pointed out to me, the amount of marriages that break down when football careers are over, bankruptcy.

“I think the rugby people do it better. I met one of the rugby administrators who told me they have a five-year plan towards the end of rugby players’ careers. They follow a path to guide them to life after the final whistle and football doesn’t do that.”

Quinn also compared the shock and emotion around Speed’s death to some of football’s worst tragedies.

“That morning was one of those bewildering moments that stopped everybody in their tracks. There’s been a few. Heysel was a time when we felt like that, Hillsborough. There’s been some really disappointing things that stand out and this one does because Gary just epitomised everything that was good and positive in professional football . . . he was just an all-round good guy and it’s impossible to understand.

“It’ll stay there in the air for a long, long time. It’s just tough, real tough.”

Initially in Dublin yesterday to discuss more positive news like the 10th year of the Dublin Bus School Children’s Art Competition, Quinn at least got to reflect on the Republic of Ireland’s first qualification for a finals in a decade as well as a new era for Sunderland.

Indeed, he also feels the Stadium of Light’s Irish contingent could create a few dilemmas for Giovanni Trapattoni because of the potential impact of new manager Martin O’Neill.

Most of all, Quinn feels goalkeeper Keiren Westwood could develop as a real threat to Shay Given. “Keiren has been excellent. His signing kind of went under the radar this summer because it was on Bosman.

“But he has been absolutely excellent and everybody at Sunderland is thrilled. I think Martin (O’Neill) even saw it for himself at the weekend how well he played. He’s a talker, he’s energetic.

“Shay is a great old friend of mine and he’ll welcome this but this guy is going to put a lot of pressure on him in the next six months before the tournament.”

Quinn also feels David Meyler and, more surprisingly, James McClean could emerge as outside challengers for a squad place.

“It’s there for (Meyler). Martin will have a look at everything now and I wouldn’t like to single players out and say some are better than others. But what Martin will enjoy about David is his enthusiasm, his strength, his passing has come on leaps and bounds, his energy levels.

“James is a really hard-working, intelligent guy. The first week he came he absolutely bowled Steve Bruce over with his attitude and he will do the exact same for Martin O’Neill. We would be setting him a target of making Martin and Trapattoni take notice of him in the next few months.”

Quinn also admitted Sunderland had a serious look at Shane Long before settling for a more physical striker, but the interest does reflect the strength in depth of the Irish squad.

“What Shane Long is doing this year is immense . . . there’s probably more options now. Some real optimism out there.”