Quinn has admitted floating supporters have drifted away from the Black Cats recently, with attendances for recent less-attractive home matches against the likes of West Ham and Bolton in December dropping to around 35,000.
On average Sunderland’s 49,000-capacity stadium has been only around 80 per cent full this season-only Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton have less fans as a percentage of their capacity this year.
And Quinn said the financial implications of a less-than-full ground could begin to bite soon, despite the efforts of mega-rich club owner Ellis Short.
‘If I don’t win them back, the club may have to downsize and cut its cloth differently,’ the Irishman said ahead of his proposed tour around the Wearside area in a bid to entice the fans back.
‘It’ll be difficult to follow up on the current investment and players may have to be sold.
‘Manchester United have just announced turnover of £289m; ours is £64m. We can’t compete financially with that, and we’re missing 10,000 fans.’
Gordon was signed by former manager Roy Keane on a hefty five-year contract in 2007-with his £10m transfer fee, including add-ons, potentially a British record for a goalkeeper.
And although Quinn admitted the club’s financials are a concern, which could lead to the departure of other stars like Gyan despite the recent big-money sale of Darren Bent to Aston Villa, he said the lack of supporters inside the Stadium of Light was as much about atmosphere.
‘Our missing 10,000 fans cost us £1.8m over the season so a figure like that won’t make the difference in allowing us to compete – it is those fans being inside the ground and making it a hostile place for visiting sides that makes the difference,’ he continued.
‘What I want from our fans is their atmospheric input. That’s what makes the place special.
‘If they don’t come back, we may not be the club I thought we were.’
Source: Ghanasoccernet .
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Sunderland may sell Asamoah Gyan to balance books.