Roy Keane: If Sunderland chiefs left me alone, I’d still be there

With Sunderland searching for a new manager following the departure of Dick Advocaat, a former occupant of the Wearside hotseat has pointed the finger at the Stadium of Light powers that be and suggested that had he been allowed to get on with the job, he might still be at the club.

Since Roy Keane and the club parted company in 2008, after a deterioration in his relationship with owner and chairman Ellis Short, the Black Cats have gone through six more managers, hardly a recipe for stability, never mind success.

“No,” Keane agreed yesterday, “and no doubt that will continue as long as there are certain people in the background. That’s not going to change. They should have just left me alone…I’d still be there.

“There’s always potential at Sunderland. It is a brilliant football club. Some of the best supporters in the world are up there. But there is stuff going on in the background that probably needs to be sorted out. People in the background probably need to have a good look at themselves.”

Meanwhile Keane, who attended the FAI Cup semi-final in Bray on Sunday, said he plans to be in the Aviva for the decider between Cork City and Dundalk on November 8. Asked for his assessment of the current standard of the League of Ireland, Keane confessed: “I haven’t watched loads of League of Ireland games. I’ve seen Dundalk once or twice, and a few over the years. I never even played in the top league here. I was with Cobh in the First Division so it’s not fair for me to comment on the standard.

“But I speak to people and they tell me Dundalk are a really good team, maybe one of the best League of Ireland teams in a long time. Cork City also look good so it’s not all doom and gloom. People should get behind them.”