All so private as Keane hails his marvels

IT WAS very much a private function last night as Roy Keane’s Sunderland were belatedly presented with the Football League Championship trophy.

Manager Keane was almost incandescent with rage at Luton’s Kenilworth Road on Sunday when he branded League officials “a disgrace” for refusing to present silverware at away grounds.

Sunderland’s 5-0 lashing of relegated Luton, coupled with Birmingham’s defeat at Preston, secured the title for the Black Cats in a stunning climax to an unforgettable season.

Yet it was more than 24 hours later, at a luxurious County Durham hotel, that Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead was finally able to lift the trophy, which was handed over by Football League Championship director Andy Knee at a low-key ceremony.

Sunderland spokesman Martin Walker confirmed: “A private club function was already arranged before the weekend as the end-of-season function for players, staff and their partners. When we were in discussions with the Football League, they suggested handing over the trophy there.”

Football League head of communications John Nagle yesterday responded to Keane’s criticism by insisting there was never any chance of Sunderland being presented with the trophy at Luton.

He said: “Representations from the relevant authorities, including Bedfordshire police, ruled out any possibility of the Championship trophy being presented to Sunderland at Luton due to spectator safety issues.’’

But Keane was yesterday in a more relaxed mood, saying: “Now is the time to enjoy what has been achieved. It’s important we take a few days to rest and relax and enjoy what we’ve done. The players have been great and I’m absolutely delighted with their efforts.

“We took 20 players to Luton and we had four who didn’t even get stripped. They were four players who made a massive contribution to our success, but they still got involved in the celebrations and rightly so because they played their part.

“I would also praise players who haven’t played that many games, like Stan Varga and Kenny Cunningham, but who also played their part.’’

Luton manager Kevin Blackwell echoed Keane’s sentiments last week in heaping praise on Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn.

Former Leeds boss Blackwell said: “Everyone will be talking about Roy Keane and rightly so, but I think Niall Quinn deserves a monumental amount of praise for the fantastic job he has done.

“He was brave enough to take charge of the side at the start of the season, having made it quite clear he was on the lookout for someone special to come in. He then appointed Roy Keane and Roy has been different class. But Niall, for me, just epitomises everything about the new Sunderland.

‘‘In the boardroom, and off the pitch, they are dynamic and bright. They’ve decided to go with that approach on the pitch, too, and it has paid dividends. At the moment, it looks a perfect marriage throughout the club and that’s all credit to Niall.”

Meanwhile a delighted Quinn vowed to back Keane in the transfer market.

‘‘We will do exactly the same as we did during the last two transfer windows,’’ Quinn said.

‘‘We’re changing nothing — the only thing that has changed is the financial leeway with player targets. ‘‘It’ll be difficult because we already have a terrific bunch of players. Roy and Mick Brown (chief scout) have identified there targets already.

‘‘We delivered last August and in January and naturally the aim is to deliver this summer.’’

Quinn added: “To be honest, I’m already looking forward to the January transfer window. I have to be ahead of the game.

‘‘We have to be in a position to cover all eventualities, so I’m already looking forward.’’