Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn says Titus Bramble will receive the club's full support after he was arrested on suspicion of rape.

The 29-year-old and his brother Tesfaye, 30, were detained after the alleged rape of a young woman at a Newcastle city centre hotel was reported to police in the early hours of this morning.

Quinn revealed Bramble "strenuously denies any wrong-doing" and will fight to clear his name.

"This has been a very difficult day for everyone at the football club, no one more so than Titus, who categorically refutes the allegations that have been made against him," Quinn said in a statement.

"He strenuously denies any wrong-doing and will be doing everything within his power to clear his name.

"I, as chairman, and the club as a whole, totally support Titus in his efforts and we all hope for a swift conclusion to this matter."

Bramble, a former England Under-21 player, was signed by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce from Wigan for a fee thought to be around £1million in the summer.

His brother Tesfaye, who has played international football for Montserrat, a British island in the Caribbean, is a striker for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Leiston, in Suffolk.

A spokesman for Bramble's solicitor Mark Haslam refused to comment, as did hotel staff.