FORMER Sunderland footballer and chairman Niall Quinn could now be granted freedom of the city.

The ex-Irish international striker, an honorary MBE, is being considered for the major civic accolade along with the Mayor of Sunderland’s French twin-town of St Nazaire.

Sunderland City Council cabinet is recommended to approve the award of international ‘freedoms’ to both Quinn and Joël Batteux, at its meeting on Wednesday September 4.

Quinn earned living legendary status on Wearside after ending his successful six-year playing stint with Sunderland by awarding proceeds from his testimonial to charity, splitting them between children’s wards at hospitals in the city, in the Irish capital, Dublin, and in India.

His 203 appearances for Sunderland brought 61 goals and featured a purple patch when he formed half of a deadly strike partnership with Kevin Phillips.

Quinn also scored 21 goals in 92 international appearances for the Republic of Ireland, including appearances in the World Cup finals tournaments of 1994 and 2002.

He went on to serve as Sunderland AFC chairman, putting together a mainly Irish-consortium in 2006 to help the team’s rise back to Premier League status under Roy Keane.

Following his five-year stint as chairman Quinn acted briefly as international development director under his successor in the board room, Ellis Short, before severing ties with the club in February 2012.

City council leader Paul Watson said both were deserving of the freedom honour for their respective efforts improving the sporting and cultural life of Sunderland.