Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn says he'll continue to back manager Roy Keane to the hilt, despite a disappointing return to the Premiership this season.
A 7-1 drubbing at Everton last Saturday is pretty much as bad as it gets. Worse still, the result left the Wearsiders in the drop zone for the first time during the campaign.
Quinn could easily have been forgiven for pressing the panic button and wielding the axe on Stadium of Light manager Roy Keane.
But he said: "I just feel for the good of Sunderland at this time, developing Roy over a long period of time is the best option for us.
"We won't go back to the panic stations and the diversion of blame that has happened here in the past.
"The fans have been through management changes and various instabilities over the last seven years or so but now is the time to be strong together.
"We are indebted to Roy for what he has done for Sunderland. Roy has a huge presence and that has helped to bring the club out of the doldrums.
"Before he took over, Sunderland were only in the news for negative reasons and the club needed to start to feel better about itself.
"Roy did that for the club. He grabbed the club by the scruff of the neck and pulled it out of doldrums.
"I believe his education at the club will be a process that can turn him into a truly great manager.
"I think we're at the level where he can do that - and if we give him time I think he can be fantastic for us."
Quinn is convinced Keane can keep Sunderland up and will continue to back his manager with cash for new players.
He added: "We always knew it would be tough and that things would take time but we like to think that we've got more than enough to stay up.
"We also hope we can do something in the January transfer window.
"We're not fearful, although we have been exasperated at times - but that is us coming to terms with this league.
"We are getting better and better with experience and with the progress that Roy Keane has made we hope that will continue."
