FRENCH misfit Lilian Laslandes has threatened to quit the professional game if he is still a Sunderland player at the end of next month.

Both Laslandes and Sunderland are desperate for a parting of the ways. The 30-year-old striker has proved an unmitigated failure at the Stadium of Light, scoring only one goal in 13 appearances and making just five starts since his £3.6m arrival from Bordeaux last summer.

Sunderland boss Peter Reid loaned him to German side Cologne midway through last season, but hopes of a permanent move fell through.

Paris St. Germain are among the clubs understood to have been offered Laslandes in a cut-price deal.

But he admitted yesterday that he is ready to go back to his roots and join the amateur ranks if necessary to rid himself of his Wearside torment.

He said: "I still want to play and fight. I just had a dark time last season.

"If, on August 31, I am still at Sunderland, I will probably change my mind and I could decide to sign on with a little amateur club in my area.''

Laslandes reported back to Sunderland for pre-season training, but was not included in the 20-strong squad which departed for France this week to prepare for tomorrow's game against Amiens in Le Touquet.

His agent, Philippe Flavier, said recently: "I am still confident an interesting club will come in for Lilian. But, until that happens, he will give everything for Sunderland."

Laslandes was bought by Reid as a potential long-term replacement for Niall Quinn.

Veteran striker Quinn, 36, has now stepped up to the role of player-coach and Reid believes he will have a major influence.

"I feel that appointing him to the coaching staff was the right thing to do - it was a gut feeling,'' Reid told the club's official website.

"Niall has the respect of all the players, has a great personality and, most importantly, knows his football.

"I was a player-coach at Everton and sometimes it is good to have a coach who is still on the playing staff.''

Read more about Sunderland here.