Sunderland chairman Bob Murray wants nothing more than to sell the club to former Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn.

The 39-year-old former striker has backing from a consortium of Irish investors and a takeover of the club - relegated from the Premiership earlier this month - is imminent.

An announcement was made to the Stock Exchange on Friday, ending weeks of speculation, and Murray said: "I've always wanted Niall to buy the club from me, and I've gone all out to get what I want."

Quinn will be at the Stadium of Light tomorrow for the match against Champions League finalists Arsenal - with 43,000 tickets already sold for the clash.

"I'm sure a packed Stadium of Light will want to welcome Niall," Murray told the Sunderland Echo.

"I'm looking for the fans and the city to respond to him and I'm sure they will. He's always been popular here. Niall is very eloquent, cares deeply about the club and the people of Sunderland - as I do."

Murray and the former Sunderland favourite have been talking for nine months about a possible deal, and the chairman is sure Quinn is the right man to take over the club.

Murray explained: "We discussed the size of the club, its fantastic support, the brand, the stadium and the academy. I'm proud of what I've achieved here, I've done an awful lot in 20 years on the board - it's all there for take-off.

"I've been a fan for 51 years, and I'm awesomely proud of what I've achieved in the past and in the past week."

Quinn joined Sunderland from Manchester City for £1.3 million in August 1996 and formed a deadly partnership with Kevin Phillips which helped the club to successive seventh placed finishes in the Premiership in 2000 and 2001.

He donated the £1 million profits from his testimonial against the Republic of Ireland at the Stadium of Light in May 2002 to charity, before joining Peter Reid's backroom staff as a coach.

Quinn retired from domestic football in November 2002, and has recently been a television pundit. PA