ALMOST two weeks into his first managerial job and Niall Quinn wants the fanfare and hype surrounding his arrival to stop in a bid to ensure Sunderland let their feet do the talking in the Championship.

Despite the promise of signings when Quinn's Drumaville consortium ousted the Bob Murray regime, Sunderland head into tomorrow's season opener with just three new arrivals.

Joining experienced Kenny Cunningham at the club yesterday was released Norwich goalkeeper Darren Ward and free agent Robbie Elliott, from Newcastle, so it will be a case of familiar faces at the Ricoh Stadium.

Quinn moved for Ward after it became clear that Mike Pollitt would not be moving because of a keeper crisis at Wigan.

Regardless of Ward's arrival, though, teenage No 1 Ben Alnwick will be given the first chance to stake a claim for a regular place and the latest addition will be back-up, along with Trevor Carson.

Ideally Quinn, who sealed the deal for Elliott just in time for him to be included in tomorrow's squad, would have liked to have added more to his thin squad but remains hopeful of doing just that before the closure of the transfer window on August 31.

For now the Irishman wants to focus on the task in hand, and that means making sure his tenure receives the perfect lift off with three points at Coventry.

He has witnessed enough from his players already to suggest that their self-belief has returned after a dreadful campaign in the Premiership.

"You never know until the cut and thrust of league games but I see smiles on faces, guys signing contracts, there's a buzz and we've got to build it and drive it," said the Sunderland boss, fresh from convincing Liam Lawrence, Dean Whitehead and Daryl Murphy to pen new long-term deals.

"Should we win the game on Sunday it would be huge.

"I understand the value of a good start and increasing the buzz. We're realistic and there are some fragile shadows in the dressing room because of last year.

"It's a hard job to raise it all but it won't be for lack of passion.

"Heading into our first game is what we wanted, this is why we got over the line. Something very special can happen and we'll give it a right go. I've no fear about where we can go and I'm happy I've got the backing of the region to drive it further."

Given that it is his first managerial post, albeit reluctantly because of a failure to convince his top targets to move, it would be understandable if Quinn was treading with an air of caution towards Coventry.

But, with a focus on transforming the fortunes of the ailing club into something great over the course of the next decade or so, the 39-year-old only feels excitement as kick-off approaches.

"I'm told I should be really nervous but I'm not. There will be adrenaline flowing and I hope the players feel the same," said Quinn, whose attempts to land Tottenham pair Callum Davenport and Andy Reid were rejected at White Hart Lane.

"It's not emotional, not at all. There's a job to be done. It's important I show leadership.

"Sitting in the corner fretting wouldn't be good. I want my players to go out with a belief they're going to have a very good campaign."

Since quitting in November 2002, Quinn has had to watch the club where he was adored suffer relegation on two separate occasions, in calamitous fashion, as they failed to make any sort of progress.

It is that sort of record which is driving him on to make sure success comes to Wearside, and he understands why pundits up and down the country claim he is mad to take on such a role.

"Look at where we were when we decided to have a go at the takeover, it wasn't the most attractive of propositions. There was such negativity at the club, people ask why I put myself through it," he said.

"The whole bite to it is restoring this club. I know what this club is about when it's full throttle.

"Certain challenges you have to take but you know they're winnable.

"People didn't understand. They said 'you're off your head, go and play golf three times a week'.

"But I've never had this kind of hunger for any other club."

He is first in and last out - something his predecessor McCarthy also claimed to be - but the difference this time is that he has his dual role to consider.

He is eager to show that the chairmanship will not get in the way of directing the team and aims to highlight this against Coventry, where his former coach at Sunderland, Adrian Heath, will be assistant to Micky Adams.

"It's a tough start, history tells you it's not a successful place for us," said Quinn, knowing the Black Cats have not emerged from Coventry with three points since 1985 - the most recent defeat was two years ago, when Peter Reid's Sky Blues triumphed.

"They've made some nice signings, though they have one or two injury problems like ourselves.

"It's all about strength in depth in the end. We're all out of the traps like greyhounds at the weekend but your squad decides where you get and how you deal with losing key players.

"I'm not happy with the depth of the squad. I want to upgrade what's here and that's the key. I can't ask any more of my players."