O’Neill: Roy’s Villa exit not snap decision

While much has been made of the timing and apparent abruptness of Roy Keane’s departure from Aston Villa – just 24 hours before a game at Burnley – Martin O’Neill has indicated that the matter was on his assistant’s mind for some time.

“We had a brief discussion about the issue just at the last international get-together,” said the Ireland manager yesterday. “I think he was more concerned about having that full commitment to the Aston Villa club job and ourselves. I’ve said in the past, and it’s worth reiterating, I never had a problem whatsoever about his commitment to the Republic of Ireland. Everything I was hoping he would bring to the table I thought he did do: commitment, enthusiasm, the strong desire we know he possesses.”

Indeed, Keane himself broached the subject of his dual club and country commitments when he was publicising his autobiography in early October.

“I feel that if I am taking my eye off the ball with Ireland, then I will leave Aston Villa,” he said at the time. “I have told Paul Lambert that, told Martin that and told the FAI that. But at the moment, it is OK. If we (Republic of Ireland) lose three or four on the spin, then I will leave Villa.”

Ireland have, of course, suffered one major defeat since then – against Scotland — whereas it is Villa who are struggling to leave behind a terrible run of form.

But, offering his own analysis of Keane’s decision to step down as Paul Lambert’s assistant, O’Neill yesterday highlighted the burden of work involved in double-jobbing.

“I think what happened is that he didn’t have any summer holiday — he went straight from international duty with us in America to the job at Aston Villa,” he said. “I think eventually those things catch up with you one side of Christmas or other. I think he himself was more worried. I didn’t have a problem with it. Roy, being the perfectionist he is, I think he wanted to give everything to every single cause. I think maybe just a little bit of family time is perhaps something he was missing.”

And welcoming Keane’s continued commitment to his international duties, O’Neill said: “His role here with the Republic of Ireland has been excellent, he has fulfilled all the points I thought that he would do. He has decided to make the choice. Naturally I am delighted the Republic of Ireland have been his first choice.”

Shay Given is now set to temporarily step up to a coaching role at Aston Villa to help fill the gap left by Keane, with manager Lambert expected to turn to the veteran Irish goalkeeper as well as club stalwart Gordon Cowans to assist him for today’s trip to Turf Moor.

Keane’s surprise departure from Villa Park was announced by the club yesterday, with Lambert describing how his assistant had come to him in the morning to inform him of his decision.

In a statement through the club, Keane said: “Ultimately, my roles with Villa and Ireland and combining my commitment to these have become too much. It isn’t fair to either Villa or Ireland, so I’ve made this decision.”

Sky Sports reported that, soon after the announcement, there were rumours circulating that Keane had been involved in a training ground “bust-up” with a “senior player“, something which was denied by the club. But Ian Taylor, who played 235 games for Villa and is now a Club Ambassador, was still perplexed by the official explanation of Keane’s departure.

“Something tells me it is not the full story,” he said. “It is a weird time to leave with a game coming up. The fans have taken to him — it is weird, I don’t get it.”

Striker Darren Bent, who left Villa with a few parting blasts as he went on a loan move to Brighton, insisted Keane had had a positive influence at the club.

“I think he got on with the players,” he said. “I think what people most respected about him is that he told it as it was, to be fair. If you weren’t playing well he would tell you. He wouldn’t hide from the fact and personally he was fantastic for me. I had a lot of contact with him on different aspects of the game and I’m sorry to see him go.”

Meanwhile, former Ireland and Villa legend Paul McGrath, while describing himself as “shocked” by the news given his old club’s current woes, told RTE Radio that he could understand why Keane made his decision.

“Ireland is a big job because you have to go around looking at players and seeing who is available, even under the grandparent rule,” he said.

“To add the Villa job was a big ask. It seems now that it was too much for Roy. With the two jobs, there’s no rest for him. He was trying to make sure Ireland get to the Euros and then going back to Villa doing his best for them. He’s realised he can’t do both. I’m glad that he’s stuck with Ireland.”

And McGrath added: “I know he’s Roy Keane, but he’s found out, even for him, the two jobs were too much.”