Kilbane: McCarthy has edge on Keane

Kevin Kilbane has taken issue with Alex Ferguson’s criticism of Roy Keane’s managerial abilities, and says the Corkman would be only narrowly behind Mick McCarthy as his choice to be Ireland’s next manager.

“I saw Alex Ferguson saying Roy wasn’t a success as a manager,” said former international Kilbane. “How can you say he wasn’t a success? He took a team from the bottom of the Championship and got them promoted. Regardless of what finances he had, that is an incredible achievement. I’ve played in that league and I know how difficult it is to get out of it. He got them up and kept them up as well.

“I know they finished 17th and that probably didn’t meet Roy’s expectations of what he wanted to do but he’s been a wonderful success. And he’s Irish and he wants the best for the players. So why would people rule him out? He’s a great footballing man and wants the best for Irish football. That for me is the most important thing.”

Kilbane maintained there was nothing new to be learned about Keane from Ferguson’s autobiography.

“I don’t know if it has damaged him,” he said. “I think Roy is strong enough and we all know these stories anyway. He has not really disclosed anything we don’t know. It just highlights it with the timing of the book.”

And despite Ferguson making much of Keane’s criticism of his colleagues at Old Trafford, Kilbane believes he would get a positive response from the Irish players.

“They would respond with respect,” he said. “The problem with the modern day player is they cannot accept criticism. You do get criticised but not to the extent that we would have got when we were kids. It was ruthless at times and Roy is from that environment. Ferguson has said how intense Roy was at times and how intimidating. Well, he did not really intimidate me, I have got to say that.”

Kilbane also insists Keane is not unique in sometimes wielding the big stick. “If you are going to appoint Roy, the media is going to have fireworks and there are going to be fireworks within the squad at times,” he conceded. “But there was that under Mick, there was that under Big Jack. Mick was ferocious at times and had a temper on him.

“Mick told the lads ‘what’s what’ yet if you see Robbie Keane speaking about him last week, he had the utmost respect for him. But I can tell you Mick would have frightened Robbie at 17, he would have frightened Damien Duff at 18 and 19. But they had ultimate respect for him.”

When Kilbane was asked if he would opt for McCarthy or Keane as Ireland’s next manager, he made it clear he was happy not to be the one entrusted with the decision.

“God, I don’t know,” he groaned. “I’ve got a great relationship with Mick. He’s been brilliant for me throughout my career. I wouldn’t want to be the one making that decision. What would probably outweigh it for Mick is his experience. He has been in the job. He knows what it takes. He’s had much more experience at club level. It’s a difficult one.”

- Kilbane was at Dublin City Council’s ‘Shared Histories – Smart Futures’, a summit in Dublin Castle on how sport can help drive collaboration between the cities of Ireland and Britain.