Mackem hero Hurley backs ‘strong’ Keane

SUNDERLAND legend Charlie Hurley has backed manager Roy Keane to take the club into Europe.

Hurley, now 72, is still known as the ‘King’ on Wearside and was voted the best player of the club’s first century by fans who regard him as arguably the best centre-half the world has seen.

He, like Keane, was born in Cork, and he believes the current manager, with the support of chairman Niall Quinn and his Drumaville consortium, can establish the club in the upper reaches of the Barclays Premier League table.

Hurley said: “I would love to see Sunderland consistently in the top half of the league.

“If Roy ever gets them regularly in the top half, he will get them into Europe eventually, and that would be fantastic. Those fans deserve that.”

Hurley revealed he and Keane, both former Ireland internationals, correspond regularly about the club’s fortunes, and the older man is convinced the 37-year-old has what it takes to bring lasting success to the Stadium of Light.

He said: “Roy Keane has done a fantastic job. Niall Quinn and the consortium have backed him to the hilt, and I think they have a pool of people there who are going to take Sunderland to new heights.

“I was at the Arsenal game on Saturday and I thought Sunderland’s performance was excellent.

“I’m not saying it was quite as classy, maybe, as Arsenal’s, but they are getting there and the way they fought for that point was very good.

“It was a typical Keane performance. He manages like he played football. Roy is highly disciplined as a manager, and that’s the one thing you have got to be.

“Whether it’s the best player or the worst player, he will fine them or drop them if they get out of line, and he has done that.

“That’s what I like about him. He is strong in discipline and he is very good for Sunderland.”