Under pressure Keane admits job is on the line

EMBATTLED Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane has admitted his job is on the line.

Ipswich’s season plumbed new depths when they were hammered 4-0 by Newcastle at Portman Road on Saturday night, a result that was met by a chorus of boos from sections of the Portman Road crowd.

The Tractor Boys are currently second from bottom of the Championship without a win from their opening nine games – the worst start to a season in the club’s history.

However the former Sunderland manager is adamant that he and his players are giving their all to get the club out of the hole they currently find themselves in.

Ahead of tonight’s visit to high-flying Sheffield United, Keane said: “Like my players I am doing my best. If it’s not good enough so be it. I’ll be the one losing my job.

“I live in the real world, the bottom line is if results don’t improve I’m sure there will be changes, that’s football. I am not frightened by that.

“That’s life and we’ll just have to deal with it.’’

He added: “I think looking at myself, it is not good enough at the moment. Like my team I am doing my best and that’s all I can do, keep trying and trying to improve.

“We are doing our best and that’s all I can ask of our players and I have to say I think they are doing that. We have made lots of changes and what we haven’t been able to build up since pre-season is that momentum with a couple of victories.

“The longer you go without a victory the harder it is. We go to Sheffield United and it is another tough game for us and we will do our best and that’s all we can do.’’

Keane says he understands why the fans are disenchanted, stating “if I was a supporter of Ipswich, looking at our results at the moment, I think I would be booing me.’’

He added: I have been booed before by my own supporters in Ireland when it was reported I should be booed because I didn’t really want to play for my country, and they booed me in one of the games, I wouldn’t say you get used to it but it’s part and parcel of the game.’’

Despite working under one of the greatest managers to grace the game in Alex Ferguson, Keane is defiant that he will not go in search of help.

When asked if he sought advice, he replied: “No. I have got good staff that I trust. I changed my two people at Sunderland and the people I brought in ended up being not the most trustworthy of people so I’m quite happy with the staff I have got.’’

Meanwhile Middlesbrough striker Caleb Folan looks set to miss the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro on October 10 and 14 after suffering a torn hamstring in training.

Boro revealed yesterday that Folan, who has yet to start a match for the club after recently joining on loan from Hull, had suffered the injury during training.

“We don’t know the length of time he’ll be out for yet but it looks like quite a serious one,’’ said manager Gareth Southgate.

“That’s a big disappointment for him, first and foremost, having just got here, and also for us. We’ve brought him here for a reason and it’s frustrating not to be able to play him.’’

If, as appears likely, Folan is ruled out it will be a big blow for Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni who is already sweating on the fitness of Damien Duff after the winger injured his calf in Fulham’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

Duff was last night still awaiting the results of a scan to assess the seriousness of the injury.

Meanwhile Sheffield United fear that summer loan signing Keith Treacy could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Blackburn winger, 21, who agreed a six-month loan deal at Bramall Lane in the summer, sustained the injury during the defeat at Swansea, where he was forced off midway through the first half.

Blades manager Kevin Blackwell said: “If it turns out to be cruciate ligament damage he will be out long-term, in the region of six to nine months.’’