Delaney: Sad Keane must move on

FAI chief John Delaney has described Roy Keane's outburst against the Republic of Ireland on Friday as "sad" - and urged him to "move on".

Keane: Told to move on
Keane: Told to move on

Ipswich manager Keane had little sympathy for the FAI's campaign to have their controversial World Cup play-off against France replayed following Thierry Henry's handball and said "what goes around comes around".

Keane's antipathy towards the FAI stems back to the Pacific island of Saipan seven years ago, when he left the team's pre-World Cup training camp, complaining that the facilities were sub-standard.

"People seem to forget what was going on in that World Cup, and that man (FAI chief executive John Delaney) is on about honesty. I was one of the players and he didn't have the courtesy to ring me," the former Sunderland manager said on Friday.

"I'd been involved with Ireland since I was 15 years of age and that man didn't have the decency to make a phone call. He could have phoned me, of course he could have."

However, chief executive Delaney said on Sunday afternoon that Keane should move on from the affair, telling Sky Sports News: "It's just a side-show.

"We've all moved on from Saipan - Niall Quinn, Mick McCarthy, the FAI and all the players - but it seems to me that he (Keane) hasn't.

"It's time for him now, in my opinion, to learn from the past - not live with it.

"I really thought the images shown around the world on Friday were very sad - it's sad to see a great former player reflected in the manner as he did.

"It's time to forget about Saipan and move on - because everyone else has."

Your Comments

ozzyvillafan (Aston Villa fan)

"SackHead at the end of the day it really comes down to your coaches and players.. Jumping on the bandwagon with Keane is only making excuses for Ireland. Roy Keanes behaviour at 2002 was despicable and Ireland still went allright. Keane is a bitter old man."

SackHead

"No, I have to support Keane on this one. At the 2002 World Cup Ireland's preparations were a joke and one of the men responsible was John Delaney. And he's still there, 7 years on! No wonder Ireland didn't qualify for the world cup! I think the best point that Keane makes is that Ireland didn't have the mental capacity to believe they could win against france. There were just too many missed chances and convenient excuses."

supareds4eva (Liverpool fan)

"who cares about this clown.Ordinary player even worse manager."

powzer (Liverpool fan)

"Though I thought Roy Keane's comments were out of order one thing is true about Delaney is that he is spineless and his willingness to accept FFA and FIFa decision prooves that."

IBegYourPardew (Charlton Athletic fan)

"But he DID have a point about the abysmal conditions in Sai Pan. It was his STANDARDS that got Man Utd doubles and trebles in the nineties. Would they have done so with the leadership qualities of Steve 'we'll have no trouble here' Staunton or Niall 'Petticoat' Quinn. I doubt it. Delaney is right tho'. Move on Roy and put that fury into the Ipswich disaster that you are currently sitting on. Be a success and THEN give these lemmings your gob. Not before. "

frankshank (Liverpool fan)

"Keane should stop feeling sorry for himself. His ego is his problem. As long as that's the case he'll not make the grade as a manager!"

BRACK66 (Manchester United fan)

"TOPMAN32. Have to agree fella! Keane, in my book, has always been a bully with a very high opinion of himself - and, from what I heard on Friday, always will be! What fans at Old Trafford see in the guy is beyond me. Younger players at United, when he was there, were petrified of him. Even Fergie tired of him in the end, and, as with all other players who think they are bigger than the club and the manager, showed him the door! Cheers. :)"

shippoblue (Manchester City fan)

"Be ideal when Roy finds someone else that lives on Planet Keane. Has a very high opinion of himself, not many others do. As a manager done nothing and can't see any success forthcoming, I would think Ipswich are wondering what they have let themselves in for. "

TOPMAN32 (Manchester City fan)

"Well said John Delaney great reply, really put this SAD BITTER fool keane in his box,crying in his room cause nobody rang him BOOO HOO, he did not ring you roy cause he was more concerned with the players that wanted to play not some bitter spoilt SAD brat like you sulking in his room. We will move on, our team is on the up with the irish public right behind it and we have a world class manager, the future is very bright roll on the Euro's. Keane is a SAD disgraced footballer and AWFUL AWFUL manager, ONE win all season for the money this sad bitter fool has again wasted it would be funny if it were not so SAD & PATHETIC."

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