It's Eight Games Now For Sbragia

A surprise appointment in the first place, the club have always been keen to deny rumours he was only ever going to be in the chair until the end of the season, but it seems that may well be the case if you read between the lines of Quinn's comments.

The Irishman would like to give the job to him on a long term basis, but to do that results are going to have to improve dramatically between now and the end of the season and even then that might not be enough to keep Sbragia in the job.

There were plenty of references to "looking after" Ricky if he keeps them up and so on, but no definite "he will stay" even if he does prevent another return to the Championship.

Another decision, in Quinn's words, will need to be made on Sbragia in the summer and could it be that Sunderland already have another manager in mind, someone who turned them down in January but is willing to come in the summer?

That might just be a conspiracy theory, but there was certainly no unequivocal backing for him, just a reference to him steadying the ship following Keane's temper tantrum.

Sunderland's performance against Wigan Athletic last weekend was dreadful by all accounts and there are still plenty of worrying whispers coming out of the club that Sbragia does not command the respect of his big name players.

Even a much improved display against Manchester City will not silence those whispers, although the level of effort on show would suggest Sbragia has not lost the dressing room even if he lost the game at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Whether one of the bad apples is Djibril Cisse, I'm not certain, but the Frenchman's performances have fallen away in spectacular fashion since Keane left and, if Sbragia stays, I can't see him turning his loan move into a permanent one.

A couple of weeks ago, Sunderland looked as though their relegation worries were behind them, but they are right back in trouble again after five games without a win.

With tough a away trip to West Ham followed by a home game against champions-elect Manchester United, Sunderland's position is starting to look almost as perilous as Newcastle's.

And I wonder how Quinn's comments will go down in a dressing room Sbragia may already be struggling to establish his authority in? Strange timing from the chairman, but as ever his honesty should be applauded. Clearly he does not want allow any room for complacency from anyone between now and the end of May!

As for Ellis Short, rich American guy wants to buy into the club. Good news because he will give the Black Cats greater spending power in the summer and will takeover from the Drumaville Consortium which, by all accounts, is broke.

He appears to have good intentions and, according to Quinn, although he wants a return on his investment, he is not being greedy or unrealistic. In other words, he's more of a Randy Lerner at Aston Villa than a Tom Hicks or a George Gillett at Liverpool.

And if Quinn says he's sound then.....