WAGS must plan for when the f inal whistle blows, says Gillian
THE wife of former Sunderland chairman and Irish international Niall Quinn has warned WAGs could be in for a shock when their partners retire.
Gillian Quinn, a successful model, says footballers and their wives need to plan for their future, or they could be left with nothing.
The mother of two, 40, has revealed she and her husband were always careful with their money and were encouraged to set up a retirement fund by the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Quinn quit his Sunderland role after six years last year.
He currently works as a Sky Sports pundit and runs a successful communications business which is rapidly expanding into Africa. The 46-year-old former Gaelic footballer carved out a career for nearly 20 years with Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland and won 92 caps for his country.
His international career included appearances at two World Cup finals and scoring 21 goals.
But his wife revealed the pair always had to watch their money, even when he was riding high in the English top flight.
‘You don’t know what other players are earning or whether they had blown every penny but I did think to myself a few times “you are in for a hell of a shock once the footballer stops earning”,’ she said.
‘We have never gone in for major excesses when it comes to spending. We are just a normal couple, really.’
Of their ‘rainy day’ mentality, the Dubliner added: ‘Football wasn’t a career in those days where you would walk away with thousands in your pocket every week.
‘We had no choice but to be sensible. I came from a normal background and I have never had loads of money, so I have always worked very hard for what I have.’