The Roker Roundup: February 20th 2012 - Quinn Departs & Stadium Name Change?

We're back! Yup, after the weekend off, we've come back to bring you all today's interesting, noteworthy and worthwhile Sunderland AFC news. Plus of course some bits from the weekend which were well worth a read too.

So ladies and gentlemen, it's February 20th 2012. A day remembered in the history books for Edward VI being crowned King Of England in 1547. Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake premiered in Moscow in 1877, and in 1999 Allan Johnston & Niall Quinn scored in a 2-1 win over Wolves on the way to a record-breaking season.

It's been an interesting day to say the least, with plenty to cover, so let's get right into it...

Of course only one story has dominated today, the standing down of Niall Quinn. A truly incredible person, and one of the few people in football deserving of the title "legend". Every site has had their say, including ours, so we're just gonna leave you with the official statement - CLICK HERE

Next on the agenda, the Stadium Of Light, or as it could be called from next season onwards the "Invest In Africa Stadium" according to Tullow Oil. The African oil giants have announced it, sort of, in their plans to float on the stock market. It has been since denied on Twitter by Scott Wilson, but we'll wait on official word - CLICK HERE

Prior to the Arsenal game at the weekend, Louise Taylor of The Guardian wrote an excellent blog on James McClean. A highlight being that Steve Bruce said "we can't expect James McClean to make an instant impact"... Perhaps if you'd had some balls, Steve, you'd have kept your job. Anyway, won't ruin it too much, it's a superb read - CLICK HERE

Perhaps on the back of the Giovanni Trappatoni finally gave James McClean a call to the Republic of Ireland national team. Fair enough too. Whilst Trap might have his plans for Euro 2012 set in stone, McClean's rich vein of form can't be ignored - CLICK HERE

Martin O'Neill has become the latest to bemoan the Stadium Of Light pitch, although with a little more tact than Phil Bardsley last week. The gaffer acknowledged it's rubbish, but says we're looking to make changes to it in the summer. Not just relaying it, but the whole thing to ensure it stays the course of the season - CLICK HERE

I suppose he's still technically our player, but Asamoah Gyan has now retired from international football. What does that mean for us though? Well it would mean to me he's even less likely to comeback what with having nothing to prove to his international manager any more - CLICK HERE

Jack Colback's been talking about how the likes of David Vaughan and Craig Gardner have forced him to become even more of a player. Colback's been great over the last month, as has everyone else really, but he says seeing the likes of Gardner practicing his shooting every day in training has spurred him on to become something more, and it's paid off with his first two senior goals this season - CLICK HERE

It's been revealed by West Ham United owner David Sullivan that we offered £6m for Matthew Upson, and he turned us down claiming he was too good for us, before later joining Stoke City for nothing and half the wages. Consider that a massive bullet dodged. Read the full and intriguing interview here - CLICK HERE