NIALL QUINN has admitted for the first time he is facing an uncertain future at the Stadium of Light as the Howard Wilkinson revolution gathers pace.

Quinn has been helping out on the coaching side since Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill took control at Sunderland last week, but after today's vital game at home to West Ham, Quinn will get together with the new boss to thrash out exactly what his future role will be.

The former Republic of Ireland international is well aware Wilkinson will want to add to the current backroom staff, and he may not even figure in his future plans.

"We'll see what Howard has in mind," said Quinn. "He's been fantastic for lots and lots of people around the country so he may have his own ideas about things.

"Whatever happens nothing is going to spoil my memory of Sunderland and nothing is going to stop the pride that I've had pulling on the Sunderland shirt."

Quinn, who also revealed he couldn't see himself coaching anywhere but Sunderland, has been deeply affected by the sacking of Peter Reid - a factor that hasn't gone unnoticed by Wilkinson, who has told Quinn to decide where he stands at Sunderland.

But Quinn says he is still waiting to hold discussions with Wilkinson, and only then will a decision be made about his future role on Wearside.

"Howard had the briefest of chats with me and said let's all just pull together for this first game and work out what we're all doing as things settle," said Quinn, who was appointed to the coaching staff by Reid at the start of the season.

"The club were short-staffed as five people left and only two came in.

"I owed it to the club to stay behind and have a go as long as they say - we'll just see how it goes.

"I never had any plans to be a coach. It was an idea Peter Reid had during the World Cup and I have to say I enjoyed it even though it was the toughest 12 weeks any coach has had to put up with.

"But having said that it's fabulous to be coach of somewhere like Sunderland - it's a dream come true even though I haven't set my heart out on being a coach."

The veteran targetman was ready to hang up his boots at club level because of chronic back and knee problems, but Reid, who at the start of the season had failed to bring in a new strike partner for Kevin Phillips, persuaded Quinn to play on.

"I am Peter Reid's man and if Peter Reid was still at Sunderland and I was coaching then it was the ideal situation," said Quinn.

"But Howard Wilkinson might have his own ideas and I dare say I wouldn't like to be coaching anywhere else but Sunderland."

The 36-year-old also indicated that the tough new training regime is taking its toll on a player whose injury problems have forced him into only a bit-part role this season.

Although he still enjoys training, he admitted it has been difficult, and he will also discuss his playing future with Wilkinson at the earliest possible opportunity.

"We are doing two training sessions a day on most days and it's long hours," said the striker, who retired from international football after this year's World Cup.

"I'm not getting any younger and in some ways it's been harder for me, but I am certainly enjoying it at the moment.

"How long I will last we'll work out with Howard in the next week or two."

Quinn is still helping out on the coaching side and praised the new management team for their desire to tackle the job in hand.

"I really hope it goes well for the two of them and the important thing is that we build up to Saturday," said Quinn.

"It's a massive game and if things don't go well it won't be for the lack of effort on the training ground.

"The two new lads have come in and in fairness they haven't started any long distance, far-reaching plans - everything has been geared towards the West Ham game.

"They don't leave too many stones uncovered in their preparation and I think the lads are eagerly awaiting the match."

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