Keane: Players let Staunton down
Roy Keane has accused some Republic of Ireland players of making former boss Steve Staunton’s job an impossible one and paving the way for his predictable downfall last week.
The Sunderland boss insists too many Irish stars consistently under-performed in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which hit a new low in the dismal 1-1 draw with Cyprus earlier this month.
And Keane admitted he fears for the immediate future of the national team with not enough top young players ready to come in and replace the names he feels let Staunton down.
Keane said: “Everyone appreciates what a hard job it is especially for a young manager like Steve Staunton. Sympathy is too strong a word but I do appreciate what a tough job he had.
“I do believe a lot of it came down to the players anyway and I think a lot of the players certainly let the manager down with their performances. I think a manager is only as good as his players.
“We need to get some top players coming through but having watched the under-21s a few weeks ago (in their 3-0 defeat to England) I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high.”
David O’Leary and Liam Brady have quickly emerged as early front-runners to replace Staunton but Keane – who once notoriously barracked Mick McCarthy over his perceived nationality – insists an Irish appointment is not essential.
Keane added: “It doesn’t concern me one bit as long as the manager comes in and is successful. But there are some very good Irish managers out there looking for jobs, so why not?”
