Clegg: why Keane had to go
Clegg says Keane was given ample opportunity to put the Tractor Boys on the road back to the Premier League but after 20 months of his two-year contract, too little progress had been made.
“In the best traditions of the club, we wanted to give Roy Keane sufficient time to get things right and to improve the situation,’’ Clegg said. “However, as he said himself on a number of occasions, the performances on the pitch since November simply haven’t been good enough. Despite investment in the playing staff, there was a lack of improvement on the pitch and the results speak to themselves.
“We all carry a degree of responsibility for this failure and I include myself in this,” the former British Olympic Association chief added.
“But I am convinced that with a new manager we will be able to achieve the objectives and goals we have set for the club. Ultimately results have to rest on the shoulders of the manager and as Roy has frequently said himself, the table doesn’t lie.”
Clegg dismissed claims that the club was in a mess, despite sitting in 19th in the Championship, believing that the play-offs are still potentially within the Blues’ grasp.
“We have taken the decision to terminate his contract now halfway through the season, we now have a real and meaningful opportunity to improve our position up the Championship table. Whilst we recognise we are only three points off the relegation zone, we are looking up towards the play-offs and not down.”
The chief executive says Ipswich owner and chairman Marcus Evans ended Keane’s tenure via a phone call late on Thursday afternoon with the former Manchester United man taking the news professionally.
“Roy was disappointed and saddened but grateful for the opportunity and as I would have expected he has conducted himself with great dignity through this difficult time,” he said.
Enigmatic conferencing and hospitality multi-millionaire Evans — he has never been interviewed and was only recently photographed for the first time — released his own statement via the club.
“I would like to put on record my thanks to Roy for his commitment to try and bring success to Ipswich Town Football Club during his time at Portman Road. I would like to wish him every success for the future.”
Keane, who was at home in Woodbridge eight miles away and not available for interview yesterday, made his thoughts known via the League Managers’ Association.
“I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving Portman Road,” he said. “Results haven’t been as good as I’d have hoped so far this season and when results aren’t good the manager gets the sack, that’s the game.
“However, I have a genuine belief that we were making progress and that the players have what it takes to turn this season around. We were preparing well for our visit to Chelsea on Sunday and then our Carling Cup semi-final with Arsenal. Getting to that semi proves what I know the team is capable of.
“I was also working hard to build the squad during the transfer window, looking at our options to attract new players to the club. I have loved my time at Ipswich, living locally to the club with my family, and have a massive respect for the club, its staff, the fans and the community and I wish them well.”
DESPITE Keane getting nowhere near repeating his success with Sunderland, Clegg dismissed accusations that his appointment was a mistake.
“I certainly don’t accept that it was the wrong decision. With the benefit of hindsight it’s disappointing that he has not been able to achieve the very high standards and the expectations that he demands of himself.
“He’s an awesome individual, someone who I have a huge amount of respect for and have grown to like over the last 20 months. It is disappointing he wasn’t able to achieve what we set out to achieve. I’ve greatly enjoyed working with him and it’s been a very easy relationship,” he added.
Clegg says Keane’s abrasive style of management — bust-up rumours appeared a regular intervals during his time at Portman Road — had nothing to do with his exit.
“In terms of personality, every manager has their own management style. Having spoken to the players today, a lot of those have benefited from the huge strengths that he brought to the football club.”
Evans and Clegg plan to interview a number of candidates to succeed Keane over the weekend with coach Ian ‘Charlie’ McParland caretaker-manager in the meantime. The former boss’s long-time associate Tony Loughlan also remains at the club, although is likely to move on when the new man is appointed.
Former Derby and Wigan boss Paul Jewell is believed to be the front-runner to succeed Keane with ex-Newcastle manager Chris Hughton also amongst those linked.
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