The former Newcastle United striker is predicting a difficult campaign for Sunderland.
The former Newcastle United striker admitted he is struggling to see past a third north east side, Middlesbrough, in next season’s second tier title race.
Former Newcastle United striker Micky Quinn
The Teessiders dropped out of the top flight alongside Sunderland last term, but have swiftly appointed former Leeds United boss Garry Monk as Aitor Karanka’s successor, with chairman Steve Gibson promising to ‘smash the Championship’.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are seemingly no closer to appointing a new manager of their own, more than a month since David Moyes’ departure, as uncertainty surrounds the Black Cats’ ownership.
And Quinn said: “They’re a mess to me. They’re caught in between two stools. They’ve got a lot of older players that I think won’t be able to cope in the Championship. There’s going to be a lot of moving players in and out.
“So no, not for me [will Sunderland be promoted]. I think [it will be] a year of stabilisation for them, and then maybe the following year to come back up. It [the Championship] is going to be improved.”
Newcastle set the bar last season, making an immediate return to the Premier League as champions.
However, in contrast, the Magpies were aided by Rafa Benitez’s decision to remain at St James’ Park, and were able to generate significant funds through player sales.
Former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
And while Sunderland may have cashed in on Jordan Pickford to Everton for £30 million, it is hard to see where similar injections of cash are going to come from.
Do Sunderland stand any chance of following Newcastle’s lead this coming campaign?
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