Ipswich chief Clegg denies transfer rift with Keane

IPSWICH TOWN chief executive Simon Clegg has dismissed suggestions of tensions between himself and Roy Keane and says he shares his manager’s frustrations regarding the slow progress of some transfers into Portman Road this summer.

Wigan frontman Jason Scotland finally completed a £750,000 (€918,000) move to Ipswich yesterday. Scotland’s move was delayed last week because Latics boss Roberto Martinez wanted the 31-year-old Trinidadian for Saturday’s game against Chelsea, something which added to Keane’s frustrations prior to the Tractor Boys’ weekend win at Crystal Palace.

“We’ve had deals agreed for one or two weeks,’’ Keane said.

“The fee for Jason Scotland was agreed a few weeks ago in terms of the clubs, it’s about getting deals done.

“It’s not my job, it’s not in my contract,” Keane continued, “I’ll give you a copy of my contract. It’s not in my contract to do contracts with agents and players.

“It’s a manager’s job to identify players and try to bring them to your club, but I hopefully will never be sitting down with an agent and a player discussing terms. That’s up to the chief executive.”

Clegg, the British Olympic Committee’s chief executive before his move to Ipswich, says this shouldn’t be seen as a sign of tensions between himself and Keane.

“People can read into it what they like,’’ he said. “Roy and myself are having discussions at least daily. Two, three, four times a day sometimes. In terms of what we’re doing we have a very open, close relationship and there are frustrations all round.

“I was hugely frustrated that having done the deal with Wigan Athletic and having done the deal with Jason, he wasn’t available to us. But as I’m finding out, that’s football.”

Clegg says he’s keen to run a tight ship at Portman Road, despite the backing of multimillionaire owner Marcus Evans.

“We’re looking to try and run this on the right sort of economic model,’’ he said.

“We can only go back to the owner so many times, he’s only prepared to commit so far on a seasonal basis.

“I’m delighted he’s agreed to commit to the signing of Jason Scotland and this is a massive plus for the club.

“We will continue to review the squad – Roy, the owner and myself – in terms of if and where we would look to reinforce between now and the end of the window, and also taking into account loan signings.”

Clegg is pleased with the way Keane’s Ipswich side – currently unbeaten and two points behind leaders QPR – have started the season.

He said: “It’s been a fantastic start to the season. I think if you’d have offered us seven points before the start of the season we would have bitten your hand off. As it is, there’s a bit of disappointment that we haven’t got nine.” Keane continued: “As long as I know where I stand I’m okay with that. There have been more talks over the weekend, we’re all focused and we all know where we’re at and we’re fine with that. It’s when there’s hidden agendas (that I have a problem).’’