"?According to the Sunderland Echo, Niall Quinn has revealed how his role as Sunderland chairman helped him to recover from depression.
Speaking at the launch of Catch a Falling Star campaign, which aims to help fellow athletes overcome mental health issues, Quinn revealed that he struggled himself once he retired from the game.
The former Irish international says he "struggled to get out of bed" upon retiring, but the boardroom role at the Stadium of Light gave him a purpose.
Quinn is now fully focused on helping fellow retirees avoid similar issues when they step away from the adulation and excitement of high-level sport.
Many observers find it hard to believe that millionaire athletes, who live the dreams of so many youngsters across the world struggle with mental health issues.
However, the intense pressure that their career brings, combined with the gaping hole that leaving it all behind creates in their lives, can lead to serious problems that cannot afford to be ignored.
High-level athletes often receive little sympathy from the everyday man, but Quinn is keen to offer a keen ear and ensure that players are prepared for the end of their career, and how to deal with it.
Quinn will assemble a team of experts to deal with financial, emotional and domestic issues, as he seeks to guide the next generation away from the pitfalls that have plagued many in the past, like Paul Gascoigne and George Best.