O’Neill targeted, not O’Leary!

Contrary to reports this morning, Niall Quinn’s number 1 target to become new Sunderland boss once a takeover is complete is infact Martin O’Neill, and not David O’Leary.

With Quinn’s takeover 99% complete and set to be announced in the next couple of weeks, speculation this morning suggested that Quinn was targeting current Villa boss David O’Leary to become the new manager for the new ‘SundIreland’ era.

With the obvious Irish connection and also ex-Arsenal playing links, the suggestion is not a completely ludicrous one, although this appointment wouldn’t exactly set the pulses of the Sunderland fans racing, O’Leary having seriously underwhelmed the fans at Aston Villa.

However it is believed, once Quinn and his backers complete a takeover, their number 1 target is infact ex-Celtic boss Martin O’Neill. While Quinn’s financial backers have, again contrary to reports, yet to be officially revealed, they are believed to be very wealthy and have big plans for the Wearsiders. They see O’Neill as the ideal name to lead the charge back to the Premiership.

Should O’Neill not want the job, Quinn has a shortlist of other top class names he wishes to bring in. In the event of none of these being available, only then will Quinn take the Sunderland managers job, and only until he is able to get the man he wants.

While speculation is rife surrounding this takeover, the signs are that should the takeover go through, and it is a question of when rather than if now, the good times could well be returning to Sunderland. For once we’ll have a man in charge whose ambitions match those of the fans.