Keane: Hoddle should have had more time

Robbie Keane has leapt to the defence of axed Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle and insisted the club should have given him more time.

Tottenham striker Keane, who will represent the Republic of Ireland here in tomorrow’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Switzerland, cannot understand why the board gave Hoddle £12m (€17m) to spend on new players in the summer and then sacked him just six games into the season.

Keane also suggested that, if he had any say in the matter, he would like to see Celtic’s Martin O’Neill brought to White Hart Lane as Hoddle’s successor.

The striker explained: “It is never nice when someone gets the sack and Glenn is someone who I respect highly.

“He brought me to the club and showed a lot of faith in me.

“It is a shame because Glenn was saying that once we get everyone fit we have got a good side, which we have, and it was only a matter of time before we were going to turn it around.

“It is a shame the way it happened. He was given money to spend during the summer and then after six games he got the sack.

“That is obviously their decision but I think maybe he should have had a bit more time.

“It was only a matter of time before we turned it around and had a bit of luck. We had not any luck up to then and maybe they should have given him a little bit longer.

“I can’t speak for other players, they have got their own opinions on the manager but he treated me okay so that’s the way I look at it and I wouldn’t have a bad word to say about him.”

O’Neill is rumoured to be at the top of the list of candidates Spurs want to replace Hoddle and he has the vote of Keane.

“I think everyone knows what Martin O’Neill has done at Leicester and Celtic and knows he is a great manager,” added Keane.

“It is not up to me, it is up to the board and whoever comes in will have a good job on their hands – we have got a good side with a lot of good players.”

Ireland face a must-win clash against the Swiss and Keane added: “Basically it is going to be very difficult.

“We are currently in third place, on the same points as Russia and one behind the Swiss, but Russia have a better record against us in the two games we have played with them.

“If we draw and Russia lose we would go into the play-offs, but they are at home to Georgia and are flying lately so you would have to fancy them to win that one.

“It is in our own hands, we know a win would see us through. Whether we needed a win or a draw this was always going to be a very tough match. The Swiss are a very good side.

“I think our players will be up for it. We have been in these situations before and have come through them, so let’s hope we can get the result that would see us at least into the play-offs.”