Sunderland chief executive Steve Walton says chairman Niall Quinn never stops jabbering during games.

He told safc.com: "It is a nightmare sitting next to Niall at matches. It's like sitting next to a Sky pundit who never shuts up. He heads and kicks every ball. But the real problem is that because he is so good at reading the game, having been a professional footballer, he tells me what's going to happen just before it happens.

"Niall is fantastic for the business - everything you read about Niall and you think about Niall as an individual, he's exactly like that in real life. He is larger than life and he has been fantastic for Sunderland. He's no man's fool either.

"Ricky (Sbragia) and I started at the same time. I did have one meeting with Roy [Keane] and he left 24 hours later. I have a photograph of Roy and me which could become a collector's item. Ricky and I are on the same journey and he's a pleasure to work with. He's a really nice guy, but he is no pushover.

"His personality has been stamped on the team straightaway. I'm really looking forward to working with the guy. No one had heard of David Moyes when he went to Everton and now he is one of the most respected young managers in football. Who's to say Ricky will not follow that path?"