Keane takes it one game at a time
To an Irish manager, Irish chairman, Irish board members and Irish players, Sunderland have now added another Irish dimension, with bookmakers Boylesports set to take overfrom Reg Vardy as the club's official sponsor at the end of the season.
At the Stadium of Light yesterday, Roy Keane made suitably approving noises about the new deal, while never leaving anyone in doubt about where his main priorities lie.
"The team have done great in the last few months and these are the rewards," said the boss of the new Championship leaders.
"You can see the club is making progress. We've obviously delighted. Everybody is very enthusiastic. You need a good team behind you, you need good sponsorship, good deals. But if we're successful as a football team we know the rest will fall into place,
“That's what I've been focused on. I've not been sidetracked by anything but it's good to get these deals and hopefully we'll be benefiting from it next year.
"But I try not get too bogged down in all of that. My focus is on trying to get a winning football team together and the lads have certainly done that over the last few months.
“After the win in Southampton it's nice to be top but you can't take anything for granted. The players have been absolutely fantastic but we all know that we have to kick on and finish the job. I couldn't be happier working with the players that I have to be honest."
And, again, while Keane welcomes the greening of Sunderland, his main focus remains on the training pitch and the field of play.
"The home match last Saturday, there were a lot of Irish overand that's great because we need all the support we can get," he said.
"To be associated with Irish supporters and Irish companies can only be a good thing I think. But, again, I can't get sidetracked by that. I have to focus on a winning team. It all boils down to the players and that's why all credit goes to the players.”
Keane, widely acclaimed for taking Sunderland from the basement to the penthouse suite in his first job in management, gave an insight into his approach to the job.
"I don't worry in terms of preparing for games because I know that the players are well disciplined, they're focussed on the job in hand," he said.
"My job is to make sure the players are happy. If the players aren't happy with anything then we do our best to make sure they are happy. If they're not happy with the pillows at the hotel then we make sure that they're soft enough for them.
“We are doing everything wecan to make it a happy dressing room and I have to say we have a very good dressing room — and when you have that you have a chance.”
Has the reality of management surprised him in any way?
"The last one or two years I was looking at that side of things and working with different managers and seeing the way they worked and, no, nothing has really surprised me. I've been on my guard and taken nothing for granted.
“When you're a football manager different things do arrive in front of you and you have to be ready for the challenge. Sometimes being on the training pitch is the easiest part. It's the other stuff you might get sidetracked with. You have to focus on the job in hand and that means working with the players and making sure they're all happy.
“There were one or two lads that weren't happy earlier in the season and clearly we couldn't work together so we sold them. There was no indecision. If you're happy at the football club, then fantastic. If you're not, then we'll let you go. There's no hidden agendas. They should all feel honoured to play for Sunderland."
For Keane, part of the new challenge is to balance his professional and personal lives so that football does not become all consuming.
"I never think about it when I'm at home," he revealed. "I've just had two days off with my family, and now I will be working today and tomorrow and then we have a game on Saturday. When I'm off, I'm off. And that was probably my letdown as a player, I never did switch off. I find that as a manager that if I'm going to be successful then I'm going to have to switch off. That's what comes from experience and getting older."
AS for the pressure, Keane finds it much more congenial at the top than at the bottom.
"I don't think it's a delicate time, it was far more delicate back in August, a lot more delicate," he stressed.
"Since I've got the job people come up and say the next game is a must-win situation. But you find that at every big club, the next game is always a big one. The biggest challenge. Saturday is a big challenge because it's the next challenge, I'm not going to look beyond QPR. I've never underestimated a team in my career — I don't think any of my players will either or else they won't be playing on Saturday. We know we've achieved nothing. The players are reminded of that every training session.
“We're not getting carried away, we're taking it each day, we'll enjoy training today — it's sunny again — so we've been lucky with the weather and we have to make the most of that and be ready for a tough game on Saturday."
It was left to John Boyle of Boylesports to articulate the dream, suggesting that not only does he see Sunderland as future Premiership winners but even as Champions League winners. Not surprisingly, Niall Quinn was keen to apply the brakes.
"I think it might be wise to urge a bit of caution," he smiled. "We're very ambitious but have always made the point that there's no promises at this football club. Too many people have made promises and have fallen flat. Sunderland fans have had enough of promises as well — what we're saying is we're not putting an end to it all. We're very committed to driving this club and bringing it to its maximum. We want to make this club big and great again, John typifies that.
“We've got a winning mentality, that's what we're trying to create. Let's see where it goes. That's the message I would have said in August. That's very much it, no promises except hard work."
Spoken like the manager, you might say.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
