NIALL QUINN has gone from questioning his position as chairman to planning for a concerted push towards the Premier League’s top ten in the last fortnight.

Two weeks ago, Quinn wasn’t sure what the future held for either himself or the Black Cats, but he has been revitalised by an upsurge in the club’s fortunes culminating in the appointment of Steve Bruce as manager.

The chairman has now issued himself with his own personal target during Bruce’s time in charge.

Quinn wants to be the first chairman to lead the Wearside club to seven consecutive seasons in the top tier since relegation ended a 68-year run of successive campaigns in 1958.

And having endured a relegation of his own during six years as a player at the club, Quinn wants to be the man who brings an end to 50 years of bouncing up and down.

Quinn and Bruce are planning for Sunderland’s third straight season in the Premier League and Quinn hopes Ricky Sbragia’s successor can help the club more than double the length of that stay.

“Other than the people who were in charge from the late 19th century to 1958, the longest this club has been in the top flight is six seasons,”

said Quinn. “Now we are about to embark on our third.

“I have gone from being a complete wreck; couldn’t look out of the window, sleeping under the covers because I couldn’t face people during those final few weeks of the season, to wanting to be the fella that does seven seasons.

“I can’t beat the fella that did it to 1958 but I certainly can be the guy who is responsible for matching the six.

That points out how it has invigorated me.

“I was doubting myself in the last few weeks so much.

That wasn’t very nice. Everything has fallen into place – the ownership issue, staying up. Now I have the zest to do it. This is my chance.”

To be the first chairman since Edward William Ditchburn between 1947 and 1957 – Colonel John Turnbull was in charge for the club’s first relegation – to keep Sunderland up for seven seasons would be a real achievement for Quinn.

Even if successful Quinn will remember the last nine months. Having lost Roy Keane, the appointment of Sbragia raised more than a few eyebrows.

The former reserve team coach kept Sunderland in the Premier League by a whisker, allowing American Ellis Short to take control at the Stadium of Light, paving the way for the appointment of Bruce in the process.

“If Ricky had not got us over the line I would have felt culpable,” said Quinn. “We might have got what they are all saying about the Newcastle and Middlesbrough players.

That would have been my fault, I sanctioned al of those deals. You start to doubt yourself.

“You keep yourself to yourself.

I was non-existent. But when you get over the line you start to feel good and pat yourself on the back. We have had good news since. It’s refreshing and we’re all lifted.”

A boardroom meeting on the Tuesday after Premier League status was assured was when Bruce emerged as the ideal candidate to take the club forward, despite his Geordie roots.

“When we took a coffee break on the Tuesday night, I looked out of my office and saw another mad Geordie in his trilby and raincoat running away from Jimmy Montgomery after winning the FA Cup,” said Quinn, referring to the Bob Stokoe statue outside the Stadium of Light.

A similar success during Bruce’s initial three years in charge would satisfy Quinn and Short, although all concerned are having a holiday to take events in before putting plans into practice.

“We will be on the email and phone all day, but it will make a difference to having sea and sand outside instead of looking out at the Bob Stokoe statue,” said Quinn.

But the Sunderland chairman is taking nothing for granted following the arrival of Bruce and expects next season to be even more difficult to stay in the division.

“It gets harder and harder,”

he said. “But Stoke and Hull deserve a big pat on the back.

Those two clubs squeezed the Premier League and that is why Middlesbrough and Newcastle have gone.

“There are other teams capable of doing that next season.

We are not saying to Steve that he will have to sell players.

“We are the opposite and the backing will be there.

There will be clubs who have to back off but we have to go to areas where we have not been before.”