Keane and Sunderland part company

From www.BBC.co.uk

Keane and Sunderland part company

Keane took charge of Sunderland in 2006

Roy Keane has left his position as manager of Sunderland.

Sunderland confirmed the exit of Keane on Thursday, with players and staff at the Stadium of Light also informed after a morning of speculation.

The Black Cats are 18th in the Premier League and have lost five of their last six games.

Former Manchester United midfielder Keane, 37, took over at Sunderland in 2006 and led them to the Premier League in 2006-07.

Keane had said in recent weeks that his future may not be certain, hinting that he could leave the club.

Sunderland's latest defeat came against Bolton on Saturday, with the Black Cats losing 4-1.

"I ask myself every day if I'm the right man for Sunderland," he said after that defeat

"I asked myself this morning, and I said I was. Sunday morning, if the answer's no, we'll have to look at it."

Keane has spent nearly £70m on 33 permanent signings since his arrival in August 2006, including the big-money arrivals of striker Kenwyne Jones, midfielder Kieran Richardson, defender Anton Ferdinand and a club-record £9m on keeper Craig Gordon.

In their return to the Premier League last season their finished in 15th position escaping relegation by just three points.

Keane had been due to hold a news conference at 1300 GMT ahead of Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester United.

The Irish midfielder is still regarded as legend at previous club Manchester United where he won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups as well as the Champions League in 1999.

During his 12-year career at Old Trafford he earned himself a fearsome reputation as a no-nonsense tough-tackling midfielder.



Keane also had spells at Nottingham Forest and Celtic, winning 66 caps for his country.

During his first season as manager at Sunderland he led the club to the Championship title.

Keane becomes the fourth managerial departure in the Premier League this season.

His contract was due to expire at the end of the season with talks over a new deal reportedly ongoing.

I am kind of surprised that he left, Sunderland maybe 18th but there is still time to recover I dont think there is much of a points differnce between 18th and mid table anyway. It was only a few weeks ago that Sunderland beat Newcastle at home for the first time in a generation so I would have thought that result would have bought Keane time with the fans. On the downside he has spent £60 million on players who have not performed such a Gordon, Jones and Cisse.

I was loooking at sunderland message boards and it has been almost 50 / 50 on wether he should stay or go but its fairly unanimous that his signings have been very poor for the most part of course some have said he is looking to get the Man u job but have we not said that about all the ex Man U players that went into management. I think Keane will be back but I dont see him bouncing back into the premiership.

You could see it coming for weeks now. Not only in what Keane has said, but how he has said it. His posture and tone have been screaming ''Ive done everything I can do here, I'd like to go home now''. I do find it a bit surprising that Keane woundnt want to stay and fight it out to stay up, it doesnt fit his attitude as a player

Well Sam Allardyce can be ruled out of the job as he is the new Blackburn manager. I dont know about in England but some parts of the Scottish media have said that Rangers asst manager and former Sunderland player Ally McCoist is high on the list of potential bosses. Personally I think it would be a mistake to give the job to McCoist while he was a legendry player he is still cutting his teeth in coaching and without Walter Smith guiding him he would be out of his depth.

Sunderland really need experience and a proven manager with a good track record if you ask me