Quinn: Only ´apocalyptic´ situation could remove Bruce

Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn believes it would take a terrible sequence of events for manager Steve Bruce to be sacked.

Quinn stepped down as chairman earlier this week to take on an international development role at the club, with owner Ellis Short taking the reins in the boardroom.

And Quinn, who appointed Bruce as Black Cats boss back in 2009, believes he is still the right man for the job – and that Short will give him his full backing following the reshuffle.

“This can be the making of Steve Bruce,” Quinn told the Daily Mail. “(He) is not isolated by this, it’s the exact opposite.”

“It’s time for him to build a closer relationship with Ellis.”

“Steve will get time for this team to gel. There’s another window looming. Unless the situation becomes apocalyptic, and it’s no good worrying about that, Steve will get time.”

Former Republic of Ireland international Quinn spent six years as a player and briefly a manager at the Stadium of Light, before taking charge as chairman later in 2006.

After significant financial backing, he has seen his side record just one win in seven Premier League matches this season, which has led to some fans calling for Bruce to be dismissed.

But Quinn has outlined his faith in the new chairman in the wake of the shake-up, and believes former Wigan boss Bruce will also be happy with the behind-the-scenes developments.

“I am happy, absolutely,” he continued. “Ellis is happy – he is speaking to the manager today. You’ll find the manager will be happy tonight.”

“Ellis will be a great chairman. The beauty of Ellis is that he has a presence. He has authority, he demands serious attention.”

“After three years, he also understands football’s snakes and ladders nature, that it’s not about under-reaction or over-reaction.”

“Steve has been in a jumpy world at clubs before, where he read things in the media, but with Ellis he won’t. Ellis is straightforward, a real man, no whispering.”

“He’s not an operator. An operator runs with the hares and hunts with the hounds and to an extent I had to do that. Ellis is way above that.”

Quinn also issued a gentle warning as to Short’s forthright approach to the press.

“Don’t expect him (Short) to be a media darling,” Quinn said. “He doesn’t worry what’s said. And he doesn’t need to go out and sell himself because every Sunderland fan knows what he’s done in the last three years.”