Keane resignation - A refreshing philosophy

IN football management, as in any leadership role, timing is everything.

You have to know when to push players to pass and when to have a go at goal, when to show faith and when to substitute, when to stick to a tried and trusted formula and when to try something new. Most of all, you have to know when it is time to go.

It can’t have been easy for Roy Keane to hear the boos echoing around the Stadium of Light in the past few weeks. But the fact he heard, listened and responded honourably is a breath of fresh air amid the stale odour of egos and arrogance that so often pollutes public life. He has displayed a refreshingly clear philosophy. He was paid well to do a job, he didn’t do it as well as he should have and he left. He didn’t have to be pushed. From bankers to public servants to politicians, we have had months of individuals turning a deaf ear to the public’s disquiet, defending their own failures and side-stepping responsibility.