I won’t be buying Roy’s book, says Cunningham

KENNY CUNNNINGHAM won’t be buying Roy Keane’s controversial book but the Birmingham defender stressed yesterday that he still respected what Ireland’s former captain had to say.

Cunningham said Keane was such a high profile, world class player it would be disrespectful to dismiss what he had to say but said the Irish players had to concentrate on the performances needed to qualify for the European Championship finals in two years.

“He has contributed so much as captain of Manchester United and Ireland that I would not say I am not interested, but I will not be queuing in O’Connell Street for the book, I will not be pitching my tent outside WH Smiths and roasting marshmallows waiting for it to be published.

“If the book becomes available then I will read it and perhaps Roy will make a couple of copies available for the lads to read.”

Cunningham, who is set to make a permanent return to first team action with Ireland against Finland tonight in Helsinki to fill the void left by the retirement of Steve Staunton, chose to deal humorously with the press enquiries at yesterday’s press conference.

The subject of Keane and his controversial views are inevitably an element in almost every conference conducted by the Irish international squad now. And Cunningham dealt openly, in his usual forthright fashion, with the subject.

“I am not surprised the issue has rumbled on through the summer since the World Cup because Roy is such a high profile player. Obviously it is a big football story for the media.

“I am sure it is going to continue to run over the next few months but we, as footballers, have very important matches coming up and it is up to us to remain focused on the job in hand and not to allow ourselves be distracted by whatever is happening on the periphery.

“I could not say what type of character Roy is outside of football because the only time I have spent with him is at matches with Ireland and most of my time with him has been spent on the pitch.

“As a footballer he demands high standards from players but then he demands high standards of himself as a footballer as well and he is a winner, so players accept that.

“I have always found him an intelligent person and he has a good sense of humour and good wit. There is that private side to him as well because he has never opened himself up.”

He was asked whether Ireland were weaker or stronger because Keane was no longer part of the squad and replied:

“Roy has achieved so much in the game and is so obviously a world class player that it would be ridiculous for me to make an argument that we are stronger as a football team without him, but there were more complicated issues than just football involved in this.”