WHEN the Football League finally handed over the Championship trophy to Sunderland last night, chairman Niall Quinn delivered an immediate warning to Premiership clubs.

Quinn has told Roy Keane to put plans in place to splash his sizeable transfer budget as soon as he can.

Keane has been handed at least £25m to spend on new talent this summer.

Preston striker David Nugent is one who Sunderland are preparing an offer for, while there could be a further seven new faces at least by the start of the new Premiership campaign on August 11.

It is exciting times for Sunderland, given they have never had such financial luxuries in their previous promotions to the top-flight, and Quinn is relishing the chance to turn the Wearsiders into a real force.

And the Irishman has highlighted Sunderland's intent by suggesting that it is not just this summer's rebuilding programme the club's owners, the Drumaville Consortium, are prepared for.

"We will do exactly the same as we did during the last two transfer windows," said Quinn, referring on the club website www.safc.com to the many additions Keane made when he first took over and then again in January.

"We're changing nothing - the only thing that has changed is the financial leeway with player targets.

"Roy and Mick Brown (chief scout) have identified their targets already. Peter Walker [chief executive] and I will be doing everything we can to make sure the manager gets the signatures he wants.

"To be honest I'm already looking to the January transfer window. I have to be ahead of the game, we have to be in a position to cover for all eventualities. The manager will be looking to recruit next January, I'm sure, so I'm already looking at that."