Keane apologises for Ireland and Delaney tirade

ROY KEANE has apologised to Ipswich Town fans for last Friday’s tirade at the Irish team and the FAI in the wake of the Republic’s World Cup exit.

Keane slammed the Irish defence and goalkeeper Shay Given for conceding France’s controversial goal and hit out at FAI chief John Delaney, a foe since the events of Saipan in 2002.

But at Tuesday night’s Ipswich Town AGM it was Keane who was on the wrong end of harsh words with a shareholder describing his comments as “embarrassing” and calling on the former Manchester United midfielder to resign from his position as Ipswich boss.

Although the dissenting supporter was shouted down by many of the 150 in attendance, Keane later returned to the issue and admitted he may have gone too far: “The comments on Sky were perhaps over the top and I apologise to any supporter I might have offended. I’m 38 years of age, I’m going to make mistakes.”

Keane was given an easy ride by fans given the club’s position second-bottom of the Championship with only one win in 17 league games.

The Tractor Boys boss was as harsh on himself as any supporter, describing the season’s performance so far as “pretty disgraceful” and admitted that if things don’t change soon he could be sacked.

Earlier in the week, one British newspaper claimed Keane’s sacking was imminent, a report dismissed by the club. Nevertheless, chief executive Simon Clegg concedes that an improvement needs to come sooner rather than later: “We’re all hugely embarrassed in terms of where we’re sitting at the moment, no one more so than Roy.

“The manager recognises that the current position is not sustainable indefinitely, but I remain confident that he’s going to turn the draws we’ve had — we’re six games unbeaten now — into wins.”

Keane is also understood to been rebuffed by Carlisle in an attempt to sign former Ireland international Ian Harte, a member of his squad at Sunderland, while Spurs’s Gareth Bale is also believed to be on his loan wish-list.

Meanwhile Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has offered to intervene in midfielder Andy Reid’s stand-off with Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni. The 27-year-old has dropped out of the Republic reckoning since a much-publicised bust-up with the Italian in the wake of the 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Georgia in Germany last September which got their campaign off to the perfect start.

The Sunderland manager revealed: “I have had a conversation with Andy and that has to remain confidential.

“I hope after the World Cup campaign there can be some sort of compromise. It is a shame because his bit of quality against France (in last week’s World Cup play-off second leg) might have made the difference. It is a shame that he is not representing his country. I know in his condition he is arguably playing at the height of his profession. He has arguably been our best player this season. If Andy wanted me to, then I would have the conversation, of course I would. But I will keep what we have talked about to myself.”