Niall Quinn is hoping to complete the proposed takeover of Sunderland following yesterday's meeting with outgoing chairman Bob Murray.

Reports suggested four key investors in Quinn's eight-man consortium - Sean Mulryan, Paddy Kelly, Tom Moran and Pat Power - had withdrawn their support, but Quinn believes a deal will go through.

The former Republic of Ireland striker said: "Basically, I'm meeting Bob Murray and I'm hoping to close out a deal for the football club.

"I'm very disappointed with the reports which have come out suggesting there are problems with our side.

"I've kept very quiet in the last 12 weeks and have done what I was told to do in terms of confidentiality agreements.

"We are very committed and we are raring to go, we just need to get one more answer now. We've delivered and we'll see what the answer is."

Quinn has worked all summer on putting together a deal to buy out current chairman and majority shareholder Murray, who promised last week that he will stand down on June 30th.

The eight-strong group was assembled earlier this month and talks were thought to be progressing slowly but surely.

The deal could amount to around £16million for a club which was relegated from the Premiership with a record low points tally of 15 and has debts totalling up to £40million.  PA