As with the rest of the clubs threatened by relegation, Sunderland are within sight of a precipice but, at present, they are standing at a crossroads. Niall Quinn, the chairman, is urging them in one direction. “The club has never had a chance like this — not in my living memory,” he said, yet mediocre performances, whether on or off the pitch, could lead them down a different path. It is a delicate moment in the club’s development.

Ellis Short, the Irish-American billionaire businessman, is close to increasing his stake in the club from 30 to 51 per cent and towards outright ownership, but may require one more push. Security in the Barclays Premier League would help, but so would an enthusiastic response to Sunderland’s season-ticket campaign. By daring supporters to believe again — and offering price cuts, including £1 match tickets for under-16s — Quinn hopes that Short will embrace the notion of Wearside passion.

The consequences will be critical. With the recession striking Ireland with vengeance, Quinn’s Drumaville Consortium is unable to fund Sunderland’s growth. It was Short’s largesse that allowed Roy Keane to buy the likes of Anton Ferdinand, Steed Malbranque and George McCartney last summer and if there is to be another injection of resources during the next close season, he will be required again. “He’s a godsend,” Quinn said. “The club is in safe hands, but it has the chance to be in brilliant hands.”

With Keane gone and replaced as manager by Ricky Sbragia, the dynamics at the Stadium of Light are evolving. As Quinn pointed out, a financially committed and engaged Short “almost gives us an anti-relegation clause next year”, yet it is not something that can be taken for granted. For that reason, nobody at Sunderland — dressing-room, dugout or boardroom — can rest easy.

“We’re talking about Ricky being on trial, Djibril Cissé being on trial — but I’m on trial, too,” Quinn said. “That’s the way it should be. I’m comfortable with that. I’ve been on trial since I came to England as a kid. If you have four bad games you’re almost yesterday’s man. I live my life through that football philosophy. And I’m trying to get this club to a point where people recognise it’s got its heart and soul back.”

Sbragia was appointed on an 18-month contract in the face of worldwide applications for the manager’s job. “There was one person that did interest me and his agent asked for £11 million a year,” Quinn said. “Gross. And that was the end of that.”

After the ructions and relentlessness of the Keane era, Sbragia’s calming influence in a caretaker capacity was appreciated, but his elevation should not be regarded as a sign of lesser ambition.

“If we stay up on goal difference in the 93rd minute, it might not be so simple,” Quinn said. “He’s got 12 months, and we did that because we wanted to take some of the pressure off Ricky. He has that and he knows that if we stay up, that will more than likely be the case.

“But obviously if it’s very traumatic or if there’s trouble in the camp — there’s loads of reasons why that might not be the right thing to do. Ricky was a halfway house option but it may turn out to be a great decision. He may kick on.”

The hope at Sunderland is that Short will prove as enlightened and beneficial to the club as Randy Lerner at Aston Villa.

“That is the perfect model,” Quinn said. “Ellis doesn’t know Randy, but we have mentioned him and how he goes about it. Ellis is the most intelligent, slick and sharp kind of person you would ever wish to meet.

“He got the big picture straight away. And he knows the importance of player recruitment. He would be calling the shots, but I will be running the club. He doesn’t interfere with any footballing decision I make.” Now it is over to Sunderland’s fans.

Open season for cuts

Arsenal Season-ticket price freeze

Aston Villa Price freeze

Chelsea Price freeze

Everton Supporters can save 10 per cent on the standard price, with a further £10 off for those who buy their season tickets online, if fans sign up before April 18

Hull City Price freeze

Newcastle United A 9 per cent cut for a season ticket

Portsmouth Offering price cuts of up to £120, with their cheapest adult ticket costing £575

Sunderland Reduced season-ticket prices by £30, while under-16s with an adult will pay £19 for the season

Tottenham Hotspur Prices frozen for up to two years, with benefit of VAT of 15 per cent if fans sign up before April 17

West Bromwich Albion Price freeze for next season and will apply whether the club are in the Premier League or Coca-Cola Championship but available until April 30