REPUBLIC of Ireland international Niall Quinn is backing Sunderland boss Peter Reid to maintain the club's renowned team spirit no matter how many new players he brings in during the summer.

Reid has made no secret of the fact that he aims to strengthen his squad substantially in a bid to qualify for Europe at the third time of asking. And one of his prime targets is a big-money striker, possibly in the mould of the lanky Dubliner, who will be 35 in October.

But Quinn welcomes the prospect of new blood, and he is sure that any newcomers will quickly learn to blend in at the club, on and off the field.

Quinn said last night: "Peter Reid deserves praise for many things as a manager but perhaps his greatest strength lies in getting his dressing room spot on.

"The way he runs it is the way it should be run.

"We're a bunch in there and there's a whole group of lads who just want to do well for him."

Quinn added: "He's straight with players coming through the ranks. He makes everyone realise that how far they can go in their career is up to them. But he also lets them know he is there to help as well.

"As a manager he holds things together very well and that's something which he is improving on every season."

Club captain Quinn believes that all the players want to take the club one step further and win entry into European competition, justifying the faith the manager has shown in them.

He said: "You just really want to bring it on to the next stage for him because he's a players' manager -- that's the best way of putting it.

"You can see other managers having a go and ridiculing their players, but he backs us to the hilt and very seldom criticises us in public."

There is a sharp side to Reid, however, and Quinn admitted: "He can get annoyed at times, and that's fine.

"But behind it there's always that sense of belief in the players he has.

"I think we want to take it on to the next level for him as much as anyone."