I never lose any sleep over Saipan, insists Keane

EIGHT years on, Roy Keane insists his decision to quit the Republic of Ireland on the eve of the 2002 World Cup has never caused him to lose sleep.

Indeed, the former Manchester United skipper believes his Saipan walk-out helped to transform the running of the national set up and expressed hope that “Irish football will be now taken seriously.”

Ahead of the 2010 tournament which kicks off today, Keane said: “Missing out on the 2002 World Cup finals does not lose me any sleep. I enjoyed helping Ireland qualify, and the madness of it all is that people still don’t know the full story. There are as usual plenty of second guesses.