Roy Keane sacked by Ipswich: Tractor Boys dismiss boss after promotion promise falls short

Roy Keane has been sacked by Ipswich to bring to an end his turbulent 20-month reign.

Keane was dismissed by owner Marcus Evans with the Tractor Boys sitting 19th in the Championship after a run of seven defeats in nine games.

Chris Hughton, sacked by Newcastle last month, is in line to succeed Keane.

Former Derby boss Paul Jewell, out of the game since leaving the Rams two years ago, is also in the frame, as is Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill and Alan Curbishley.

Manchester United leg end Keane was confident he would secure promotion to the Barclays Premier League, as he did with previous club Sunderland, but he managed just 28 wins from his 81 games in charge.

Ipswich’s start to last season, when they failed to win any of their first 14 league games, was the worst in their history.

Despite a more promising start to the current campaign, when they were undefeated after five games, they slid down the table after suffering six straight defeats.

Keane spent £8million in an attempt to assemble a side capable of winning promotion but few of his buys paid off.

With the club showing no sign of improvement it was no surprise that multi-millionaire Evans wielded the axe.

But the decision came just three days before the club’s FA Cup third round trip to Chelsea.

Keane also steered Ipswich into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and a two-leg clash with Arsenal, the first of which is at Portman Road next Wednesday.

But despite those money-spinning clashes Keane’s failure to turn Ipswich into promotion contenders is what has cost him his job.

Keane seemed to sense he was on his way, his comments in recent weeks revealing he clearly feared the worst.

After Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest he said: 'I’m doing my best and if my best isn’t good enough, then I’ll take the consequences.

'I don’t expect you to be giving me phone calls if I do lose my job. It’s the nature of the game.

'Even managers who win football matches lose their job, let alone managers who don’t – George Burley last week, Darren Ferguson, Lawsy (Brian Laws), Big Sam (Allardyce), blah, blah, blah. Don’t let my position keep you awake at night. What will be, will be.'

Keane was unveiled in April 2009, four months after he quit Sunderland, and his appointment represented quite a coup for Ipswich.

The club insisted Keane had their 100 per cent backing at last month’s annual general meeting.

Chief executive Simon Clegg said: 'The owner and I are absolutely joined at the hip regarding Roy. If we weren’t supporting Roy he wouldn’t be here now.

'There’s no timescale on it at all, other than the fact that Roy’s contract is up at the end of the season.

'We all know that Roy is a very driven individual, a very focused individual not used to accepting failure and if there’s anyone who can turn it around, Roy Keane can.'

But those words had a hollow ring to them last night when Evans’ patience snapped and he decided Keane’s time was up.

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I was amazed Ipswich signed him in the first place. The guy may be a good on-field leader, but his way too immature and well.....insane to manage a football club.

Tremendous work there by the reporter using 'Manchester United leg end Keane' in the fifth para. :D

PS: Now I see it was you Hutch.

Edited January 7, 201114 yr by rahul

But of course. I wouldn't go so far as to call it "tremendous work" but thanks anyway!

Good, can't stand the c@%*

Good, can't stand the c@%*

Seconded.

No sympathy for him, and it seems it was well overdue by ITFC stuck by him, but this is the last thing we needed before the weekend.

Hes a cock but this is gold:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjkB_6gQ5uM

It was also massively hypocritical considering he was the captain of his country and spat his dummy and ran home to his mummy. the c**t.

It was also massively hypocritical considering he was the captain of his country and spat his dummy and ran home to his mummy. the c**t.

Right. And over the arrangement of travel and training facilities. If you dont like it so much, pay for better yourself you stupid millionaire.

It was fantastic that Ireland went on to their best ever WC showing after he made such a show of walking out

Right. And over the arrangement of travel and training facilities. If you dont like it so much, pay for better yourself you stupid millionaire.

It was fantastic that Ireland went on to their best ever WC showing after he made such a show of walking out

Quarter finals in Italia 90 was our best world cup performance.

I'm going to draw extensive criticism for saying this, but I don't mind Keane. The team he played for aside, I like the way he played, and I like his no bullsh*t attitude towards the media, as emphasised in that clip Zola posted. If he had played here we all would have loved him.

I'm going to draw extensive criticism for saying this, but I don't mind Keane. The team he played for aside, I like the way he played, and I like his no bullsh*t attitude towards the media, as emphasised in that clip Zola posted. If he had played here we all would have loved him.

No criticism from me my friend I just dont get this anti-Keane slant.

I'm going to draw extensive criticism for saying this, but I don't mind Keane. The team he played for aside, I like the way he played, and I like his no bullsh*t attitude towards the media, as emphasised in that clip Zola posted. If he had played here we all would have loved him.

Do you mind the fact that he intentionally ended another player's career?

Here it begins. Look I'm not gonna stand here and defend every flaw, I think it's well known he had several high profile incidents, notably the Ireland WC 2002 one which I thought was a blight on his record, the tackle itself was also a malicious one. However, in general I liked his style, he gave no quarter and expected none in return, which I think is an admirable quality in footballers and one I'd like to see more of. In some ways he was similar to another player I loved from here Dennis Wise, who wasn't without his own issues.

Here it begins. Look I'm not gonna stand here and defend every flaw, I think it's well known he had several high profile incidents, notably the Ireland WC 2002 one which I thought was a blight on his record, the tackle itself was also a malicious one. However, in general I liked his style, he gave no quarter and expected none in return, which I think is an admirable quality in footballers and one I'd like to see more of. In some ways he was similar to another player I loved from here Dennis Wise, who wasn't without his own issues.

Exactly mate, nail on the head!!

Keane has more serious attitude and seems a bit of a knob. People outside Chelsea didn't like Wisey so much, but at least he seems friendly off the field ! :D

Edited January 9, 201114 yr by Zola

Great clip, Zola. As Keane said, great players do not always make great teams. And they don't make great managers, either.

Keane was a great midfielder - a hard, fearless, driving leader on the pitch. Not the most skilful or creative, but an asset to any side. As for his personality, I can't stand him. His assault on Haaland should have seen him go to jail (Duncan Ferguson did time for less), and his boasting about in this book was a total disgrace and the sign of an utter scumbag.

As for turning your back on your country and teammates because you consider the hotels and training facilities beneath you, that just siums the tosser up.

If he had played here we all would have loved him.

100% correct, no matter what anyone else might say.

Great clip, Zola. As Keane said, great players do not always make great teams. And they don't make great managers, either.

Keane was a great midfielder - a hard, fearless, driving leader on the pitch. Not the most skilful or creative, but an asset to any side. As for his personality, I can't stand him. His assault on Haaland should have seen him go to jail (Duncan Ferguson did time for less), and his boasting about in this book was a total disgrace and the sign of an utter scumbag.

As for turning your back on your country and teammates because you consider the hotels and training facilities beneath you, that just siums the tosser up.

Did you read his book Backbiter

100% correct, no matter what anyone else might say.

But he didnt, and was an utter cock at times. He was obviously a superb footballer and one I would love us to have had. But that doesnt stop him being a complete tosser and a nasty f**ker to boot, and theres no reason why I shouldnt detest him. What he did to Ireland was a disgrace and showed just how much of an ego he had. If any player had done that for England, and even if it was a Chelsea player, I would hate him for it. too.

100% correct, no matter what anyone else might say.

Indeed. Dennis Wise was hardly a saint on and off the field, yet I haven't met a Chelsea fan who doesn't love him.

Did you read his book Backbiter

Only the serialised extracts. Here's the relevant one:

"I'd waited long enough. I f**king hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c**t. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries.....Even in the dressing room afterwards, I had no remorse. My attitude was, f**k him. What goes around comes around. He got his just rewards. He f**ked me over and my attitude is an eye for an eye."