Club legend Niall Quinn has this message for Sunderland supporters after years of struggle

But club legend, former striker and chairman Niall Quinn has urged fans to ‘keep the faith’ that the good times will come back to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland have tumbled through the divisions in recent seasons following relegation from the Premier League, with a third season in League One on the cards.

EFL clubs will vote on Tuesday over how the 2019-20 campaign is concluded but there is a growing feeling it will be curtailed and Sunderland will miss out on a play-off spot.

Fan anger and disillusionment with the current owners is high given the failure to win promotion over the past two seasons, while the recently unveiled season card plans have also led to a fierce backlash this week.

Quinn stopped short of criticising the owners and says he knows how difficult it is to run a football club.

Reflecting on his time at the club, Quinn told Sky Sports’ Football Show: “Back in my time, I was chairman then Ellis was chairman and I moved to International Director and Martin O'Neill came in to replace Steve Bruce and really turned things around.

"We had just beaten Arsenal the week before I left so there were no signs that things would go the way they have gone.

"But that is football. I would never criticise anybody because I know how difficult it is to run a football club. It is all too easy for outsiders to come in and say they did this wrong and they did that wrong.

"It is a hell of a battle and the kitchen is hot when you are trying to run a football club. If you don't get all the bits going the right way it can prove very, very difficult indeed.

"I think Ellis Short put an awful lot of money into the club in my time and thereafter.

“Looking back he would say he would do things differently, I am sure he would.

"The new regime that took over got close.

“I went to the play-off final last year and it was the last kick of the game and they got turned over by Charlton which repeated history from my time. So it is difficult."

Quinn added: “Personally, my son still looks at me and says: 'Dad, why didn't you make me follow Arsenal or Man City? The other clubs you played for!

"The fella almost has depression at this stage. But they have a great saying in Sunderland: 'Keep the faith'.

"It is very difficult to keep the faith right now but I still have it and I think something can come good.

“It is too big of a club to just be out in the shadows and I have no doubt something positive will happen in the future."