# Niall Quinn – a model chair of trustees?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/05/11/niall-quinn-model-chair-trustees/
- Published: 2007-05-11T13:10:03+01:00
- Author: Guest Blogger

**I spent the first part of this week in a euphoric state celebrating Sunderland’s
stunning Championship title win, only to be brought back down to earth as my son
and I watched Oxford Utd’s play off hopes go up in smoke after the agonies of a 
penalty shootout defeat.**

However, it has been fascinating this season to watch Roy Keane transform the fortunes
of Sunderland, backed by a smart, knowledgeable, young chairman in Niall Quinn.

Keane’s terms for taking the job were that he had absolute and complete control 
over his specific area of responsibility – the players, the training, and the results.
He would not tolerate any interference and the Chairman and the board could take
care of everything else. Quinn agreed, kept to his word, trusted him, and the team
went from rock bottom of the Championship to Champions in less than a season.

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And they look after their supporters too. After the Plymouth game, EasyJet refused
to fly their last scheduled flight back to Newcastle airport from Exeter – apparently
because the plane was full of ‘rowdy’ Sunderland fans. Quinn who was also on the
flight (and whose name the supporters were chanting), paid out £8,000 for all the
fans to get taxis to take them the 400 miles or so home that same night.

I’m not really sure where this is all leading other than my desire to get Sunderland
mentioned.

Although thinking about it, wouldn’t it be great if you could get a Chair of Trustees
like Niall Quinn? One willing to trust the professionals to get on with their job,
non-interfering, and best of all very focused on exceeding supporters’ expectations.

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