Quinn and manager Roy Keane are currently working to strengthen a squad which battled hard to stay in the Barclays Premier League last season.

The two former Republic of Ireland internationals, backed by the Drumaville consortium, have helped Sunderland establish a new fan-base.

In addition, Keane's current squad includes nine men who have been capped at senior international level by Ireland - while the Sunderland boss is also linked with moves for Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Ireland, Damian Duff, Aiden McGeady and Richard Dunne this summer.

Quinn told the Sunderland Echo: "We do have a big Irish connection but we don't purposely go out to sign Irish players.

"If there were two players, we would go for the one we wanted the most - not the Irish one.

"We have scouting systems in Ireland at all levels, which we did not have before, and we think we will see the benefit of that in years to come.

"It's respecting the clubs, the young players, the parents, the FAI.

"We have a close relationship with football in Ireland. We have paid a record fee for an Irish player (from the Eircom League).

"We would like to continue to nourish the link between Ireland and Sunderland. It makes us a bigger international club, because we are not relying on people within 20 miles of us.''