Bruce was hate figure for Quinn

Jun 7 2009 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

NIALL QUINN admits he used to hate Steve Bruce – because the ex-Man U defender “used to get away with murder!”

But Sunderland chairman Quinn says it was the qualities Bruce showed as a player that convinced him he was the right man to manage the Black Cats.

Quinn crossed swords with Bruce on many occasions when he was playing up-front for Manchester City while Bruce was a tough, uncompromising centre-half with cross-city rivals United.

Now the one-time fierce opponents are both on the same side as they look to turn around Sunderland’s fortunes and turn them from relegation strugglers into a Premier League force.

“Steve used to get away with murder because he was a little centre-half,” remembers Quinn.

“Referees used to let little centre-halves knock lumps out of me. It would be true to say that when you’re a blue with a number nine on your back and you’re being marked by a red in Manchester with number four on his back, I would be lying if I said I respected him – I didn’t like him!

“But that’s not a slight – it was because he was so tough, he made life so awkward for you, and he constantly got the referee to whistle and the linesman to get the flag up. He was influential, as you know, that was his game, he was all-action.

“I had a few verbal run-ins with him over time but that doesn’t mean now, years later, that I don’t recognise his graft and determination.

“I know he’ll bring those qualities to his new job here at Sunderland.”

Quinn also revealed that he identified Bruce as the man he wanted in charge at the Stadium of Light within hours of Roy Keane walking out in November.

But he knew he had no chance of persuading him to leave Wigan at that stage, when the Latics were flying high in the table.

Quinn appointed Ricky Sbragia instead, but the former first-team coach decided to step down after ensuring the Black Cats stayed in the top flight.

And that left the way clear for Quinn to approach Bruce and tempt him away from the JJB Stadium.

Quinn said: “I identified Steve as our target about 12 hours after Roy left!

“I didn’t bother inquiring, though, because I think Wigan were in sixth or seventh place, they were absolutely flying. We looked in trouble. We were one game away from going bottom of the league.

“But when the dip came, that was when I believe Steve Bruce would have been at his best in the dressing room. Ricky did great and got them back out of it and got us over the line. But I just had the feeling that, under Steve, that would be a distant memory.”