Keane managing his obsession

ONCE a year for eight years now, Roy Keane has been popping up in Dublin to put in a long day of helping to promote the Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind.

The event is an annual media milestone which has marked the passing of the seasons for him and us, from playing days with Manchester United and Celtic and the reprise of his international career through the ups and downs of management at first at Sunderland and now Ipswich Town.

With Keane never shy about giving a direct answer to a correct question, these press conferences have become a little like state-of-the-nation addresses, a chance to hear Ireland’s most fascinating sports person offer his thoughts on the issues of day.

Yesterday was no different, except that for a while it became a little more like a State of Keano address, as the Corkman looked inward as well as out, giving his listeners a glimpse into the everyday – and, by the sound of things, every night – addictions of a football manager.

“It’s 24/7, it’s unbelievable, there’s absolutely no getting away from it,” he said, of a job which he concedes is indistinguishable from an obsession.

“Is that healthy? No, far from it. Ask my wife. But there’s obviously an element of a buzz to it, a bit like a drug. I go to bed at night and I’m not thinking about lying on beach, I’m thinking about players, staff, do I need an assistant, what kind of assistant do I need, an older more experienced number two or a young, hungry number two? 24/7? Absolutely.

“That’s why I understand why other managers get into horse racing or collect wine or go on fancy holidays, whatever it might be. My way of relaxing is walking my dogs and I do love going to the pictures. I know that’s not very exciting but I do switch off at a movie. But it has to be on the big screen. I wouldn’t watch a movie at home, ‘cos the telephone is going, the dogs are barking, the kids are crying. But at the cinema, I switch off, I have to say. The last one I saw? The Sandra Bullock one. ‘Blind Side’. Very, very good, really enjoyable.”

If it’s lonely at the top, sometimes, it can be even worse below the middle, which is where Ipswich find themselves in the Championship after a year of living dangerously.

Now, for the first time in his admittedly young managerial career, Keane is contemplating the appointment of an assistant manager, a decision he admits is a “big call” for a man accustomed to doing it his way.

“This summer I’m going to have a look,” he said. “There’s one or two people I’ve got in mind and I’m going to speak to them over the next few weeks and months.

“See, I’ve got to get someone who can put up with me, as well. It’s a balancing act. I’ve got good coaches so it’s not necessarily about someone being on the training pitch. You look at all the good managers, people like Martin O’Neill and Harry Redknapp, they have people on the bench they’ve known for years. It’s important that you enjoy the person’s company too. So it’s a big call for me this summer.”

Would he admit to having a problem delegating? “Maybe so, maybe it’s a bit of a control freak thing. Nah, but I appreciate I don’t have all the answers. It wouldn’t be magical, it’d be just having a cup of tea, someone to say relax a bit, chill out for a few days, whatever it might be.

“I could have done with that at Sunderland. When you’re the manager the buck stops with you anyway. So it’s not necessarily about getting someone with tactical awareness but someone with a bit of experience, who’s been there and done it. It wouldn’t have to be someone from my past. That doesn’t necessarily work and I’ve made that mistake before.

“I won’t mention names because you’ll all get carried away but there are a lot of good, experienced people out there looking to get back into football.

“The top managers have good people around them and maybe I’ve lacked that a little bit. Maybe.”

When Keane took on the job at Portman Road, he said he wanted the club promoted within two years.

With one down and one to go, he admits that if they don’t get off to a decent start next season, he’ll be “in trouble” but plans to prevent that by a significant clearing out and freshening up of his present squad.

“We wouldn’t get promotion with what we have got now,” he said.

“We are short and I think everybody knows that. I’ve got five players in mind whom I would like to try and bring to the club. I’m focused on getting the right characters in this summer, not necessarily the most talented players.

“The Championship is about experience and strong leaders and I have to say we probably lacked that this season more than anything. One of two of the players I have in mind have played a lot of games in the Premier League.”

Someone like Lee Carsley perhaps? “Yes, someone like that who has that vast experience. I suppose he has not played too many games over the last few years because of injury. I think these are the sort of characters you need to get out of the Championship.

“We will see who is available and, most importantly, what sort of wages they are on. I’m hoping for a busy six or seven weeks.”

It’s the price you pay to be a gaffer. The Cineplex will just have to wait.

* Roy Keane was in Dublin to promote the Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind SuperValu Shades 2010 campaign.