Speaking to the Echo on the eve of the season, the chairman said: "I'm looking forward to the opening game and I couldn't be happier that it's a great fixture like a game against Liverpool at the Stadium of Light.

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"It's a game to get everyone excited and I've got to say that we go into the new season feeling quiely confident that we can improve on last season.

"I sense that the fans feel the same way, too.

"We've come a long way in the couple of years since the Drumaville consortium took over the club, but I know we've still got a long way to go.

"I don't think we can complain, though, about how things have gone so far.

"I remember watching a few Sunderland games before I came back to the club and there was such negativity in the air.

"That's all gone now and there's optimism around the place, which is what I was desperate to help bring back.

"There's some excitement about things and I think we're all looking forward to the visit of Liverpool – it's a reminder that this club is now back in the league it belongs in."

Quinn insists that he and his manager are in tune when it comes to their positive approach to the season.

He added: "Roy Keane and I share the fact that we always tend to look forwards, not backwards.

"We believe these new players and the players who came through a difficult first season in the Premier League can make the fans proud.

"It has been tough so far, no doubt about it, but we have worked hard and ground out progress at times.

"We have got the stock up of this club in football in the last two years.

"And this season is a chance to improve the standing of Sunderland in the game even further.

"It all begins with Liverpool tomorrow and we're looking forward to welcoming fans back to the ground for another campaign.

"Last season they were magnificent on the opening day and they helped us to a 1-0 win over Tottenham.

"That game is still vivid in my mind, especially Michael Chopra's last-minute goal.

"At the end of last season, I described that as my personal highlight of the season – Sunderland back into the Premiership, a big-name club in opposition and a victory for the fans to cherish.

"I'd love to get a similar memory from tomorrow's game, but we are all united at the club in hoping we can have quite a few special memories from the season ahead for Sunderland Football Club."