Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has revealed how Roy Keane was never going to walk out on the club and that discussions regarding a new contract have opened.

"A big thing has been made of it but we always said it wasn't a big issue for us. What is the point of having a last year of a contract if you have to sign a new one before it ends!" Quinn quipped in an interview with Sir Bobby Robson in The Mail on Sunday.

"We always envisaged started talking around Christmas but because the issue is mentioned such a lot, I have just opened discussions about keeping him.

"Typical of Roy, he has been keen over the last month to find out exactly where the business is going over the next two years. We are putting stuff together…showing what kind of investment the owners can put in. That is what Roy wants to satisfy himself with.

"He is not asking for big lumps of money. He is asking where the club is going, not just in the next window but for the next few windows.

"Once Roy is happy that we're all on the same journey I think he is going to be around for a long time.

"Trust me, there is no issue with Roy. All I can tell the fans is that it will be dealt with."