SOCCER:Even when banging the Sunderland PR drum Niall Quinn is realistic enough to accept that his club's return to the top flight could easily turn into a familiar struggle and, in preparation for such an eventuality, he has not only pledged to "live or die" by Roy Keane but says that if things do go wrong and the supporters call for Keane's departure, "they'll have to have me out as well".
"I honestly believe that whoever the chairman is - and it's a title I don't like - that the person they put their trust in, they back to the hilt," said Quinn. "And rather than squirming out of it in 18 months and saying, 'Oh, he's terrible, I'm going to pick another one,' I think you should live and die with your man.
"The days have gone, I suppose, when people have lots of time, and there is huge pressure now, but I can promise you one thing: if the fans want the manager out, they'll have to have me out as well. Long term, Roy is the great answer to this football club's problem. There will be lots and lots of rocky roads in getting there, but his strongest supporter will be here.
"The danger is Roy was so good last year that people will be expecting it to happen automatically in the Premiership," said Quinn, speaking at the launch of Creating Chances, the Premier League's flagship community programme.
"We want to take Sunderland to places which will make them very proud, but that isn't going to happen by October. The players love him and I just wish I had worked with him when I was playing - I wish I had bought into his way of thinking earlier."
Meanwhile, Sunderland have completed the signing of Cork City striker Roy O'Donovan for an undisclosed fee. O'Donovan admitted Keane's influence made him choose Sunderland over Fulham. "I had a choice between Fulham and Sunderland but when I spoke to the gaffer my mind was made up."
Leeds manager Dennis Wise has questioned the motives of the majority of Football League chairmen who voted to uphold the club's 15-point penalty for breaching rules on insolvency.
The 40-year-old Londoner and assistant Gus Poyet did little to hide their despair after 75 per cent of the 71 rival Football League clubs voted in favour of the governing body's unprecedented sanction.
But Wise, who carved out a playing career at the highest level on the back of an indomitable spirit, vowed Leeds will come out fighting when they launch their first season in League One at Tranmere tomorrow.
Wise said: "It's laughable. Not only have they taken my arms and legs off, now they've cut my b***s off as well. It's just not funny at all. We'd like to know deep down the real reasons."
Frank Lampard wants to spend the rest of his career at Chelsea - but has told the club he intends to delay further contract talks until the end of the season.
"I have always expressed my desire to stay at the club," said Lampard, in central London yesterday to promote Frank TV on the Orange mobile phone network.
"Unfortunately we have had problems with the negotiations. They have gone on a long time. Now the season has started, I have told the club I do not really want to get involved in negotiations which are not going to end well while I am playing football, because this is a big season for me and for the club."
Racing Lens have sold France under-21 goalkeeper Charles Itandje to Liverpool for an undisclosed fee, the Ligue 1 club said yesterday.
The transfer is likely to mean that Scott Carson leaves Anfield for a loan move to Aston Villa. Carson is still regarded highly by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez but the Spaniard could not see him featuring regularly this term. His move to Villa will now go through but he will not be able to play against Liverpool in their season opener this weekend.
William Gallas has been appointed captain of Arsenal for the coming season. Gilberto and Kolo Toure will be his deputies. "I feel centre-back is always the best position to lead on the pitch and it is Gallas who has more experience at the back," said manager Arsene Wenger.
