Player-Manager Profile

John Trollope first brought Quinn to the County Ground, signing him from non-league Oswestry Town for £10,000 in December 1981. He had to wait three months for his debut, coming on as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with Walsall, on 9th March 1982. He made his full debut by the end of the season, forming an attacking partnership with Paul Rideout, in a 3-2 win over Oxford United on 4th May. Unfortunately, it didn't help the Town, who were relegated to Division Four at the end of the season, for the first time in their history.

It took Quinn another whole season before he became a first team regular. He bagged a brace in a 7-0 demolition of Kettering in the FA Cup, and was given his chance in the next league match, when he again scored twice against Mansfield. Another goal in his next game cemented his place in the starting line-up, and Quinn missed just four of the remaining matches of the season. He really shone in the FA Cup, scoring six goals in five games, including one in a 2-1 home defeat by Second Division Blackburn. His performance obviously impressed them - at the end of the season they came in with a £32,500 bid, and Quinn was allowed to leave for Ewood Park.

Just over two years later, Lou Macari persuaded Quinn to return to the County Ground, for a fee of £50,000. He went straight into the starting line-up, and helped the Town to a play-off place in Division Two, with ten goals. Quinn missed the play-off final replay versus Gillingham through injury, but the Town sealed promotion.

The following season, Quinn was on fire - scoring 31 goals in all competitions, including 21 in the league, and eight goals in six League Cup matches. With his contract up at the end of the season, Macari did his best to persuade Quinn to stay, but his efforts proved fruitless - Quinn agreed terms with Leicester City, and a tribunal set the fee at £210,000.

Quinn was to return to Swindon for a third time in 1998 - this time as a manager, after the departure of Steve McMahon. Chairman Rikki Hunt declared that he wanted someone who would die for Swindon Town - he chose Quinn - little did he know it was to be an impossible task.

Quinn managed to keep the Town in Division One in 1998/99, but his first full season in charge proved to be a disaster - with the club in dire financial straits, they fell into administration, players were sold, and no money was available to replace them. Now forty years old, Quinn was even forced to don the Swindon shirt again, taking the number 40 shirt.

Town were rock bottom from mid-November until the end of the season, breaking a club record of nineteen games without a win in the process. After relegation was confirmed, Quinn was shown the door after six of the seven board members decided he should go - even despite the impossible circumstances. Colin Todd was appointed as manager within days, fuelling speculation that a deal had been done before Quinn's departure.

Managerial Record

Playing Record

Senior

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Career details

Club	Details
Congleton Town Congleton Town
Whitchurch Alport Whitchurch Alport
Nantwich Town Nantwich Town	cs 1979
Oswestry Town Oswestry Town	August 1981 ; transferred out
Swindon Town Swindon	November 10th, 1981 (trial)
Swindon Town Swindon	December 28th, 1981 (transferred in , £10,000 ); transferred out (August 15th, 1984)
Blackburn Rovers Blackburn	August 15th, 1984 (transferred in, fee set by tribunal , £32,500 ); transferred out (December 18th, 1986)
Swindon Town Swindon	December 18th, 1986 (transferred in , £50,000 ); transferred out (June 20th, 1988)
Leicester City Leicester City	June 20th, 1988 (transferred in, fee set by tribunal , £210,000 ); transferred out (March 17th, 1989)
Bradford City Bradford	March 17th, 1989 (transferred in , £210,000 ); transferred out (December 30th, 1989)
West Ham United West Ham United	December 30th, 1989 (transferred in , £320,000 ); transferred out (August 5th, 1991)
AFC Bournemouth Bournemouth	August 5th, 1991 (transferred in , £50,000 ); transferred out (July 27th, 1992)
Reading Reading	July 27th, 1992 (transferred in , £55,000 ) December 15th, 1994 (appointed joint player-caretaker manager) January 5th, 1995 (appointed joint player-manager); sacked (May 9th, 1997)
Peterborough United Peterborough United	July 15th, 1997 (player-coach)
Swindon Town Swindon	October 2nd, 1998 (appointed player-manager); sacked (May 2nd, 2000)
Cricklade Town Cricklade Town
Cirencester Town Cirencester Town	August 2000
Northwich Victoria Northwich Victoria	rptd September 6th, 2000
Hereford United Hereford United	October 2000
Highworth Town Highworth Town	November 2000
Nantwich Town Nantwich Town	rptd November 16th, 2000
Hayes Hayes	February 2001
Congleton Town Congleton Town	April 2001
Northwich Victoria Northwich Victoria	July 2001 (player-manager)
Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town	May 27th, 2003 (player-manager)
Nantwich Town Nantwich Town	October 2004
Peterborough United Peterborough United	November 2004 (assistant manager)
Egersunds IK Egersund	December 2005 (manager)
Nantwich Town Nantwich Town	2005/6
Willaston White Star Willaston White Star	June 2006
Cambridge United Cambridge United	rptd September 15th, 2006 (appointed manager); by mutual consent (rptd June 15th, 2008)
AFC Bournemouth Bournemouth	September 2nd, 2008 (appointed manager); sacked (December 31st, 2008)
Nantwich Town Nantwich Town	March 2011 (appointed manager); by mutual consent (rptd March 15th, 2013)