Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 05 December 2008 )

English Premiership football News

Players shocked over Keane exit
Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards says the team were surprised by manager Roy Keane's decision to resign.

Keane, 37, left the club on Thursday Wearside have been in charge at the light for 27 months.

Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The players still have full confidence in him. I went to think that the work would be normal, but it should not be.

"We have to get our sleeves and continue to start winning games and we return to the table."

Edwards has also played with suggestions Keane decreased with the players.

"Managers will have any run-ins with players and you find that in any club.

"But to say some players do not want to play for him, I'm not going to say.

"Some players are still to be unhappy not to play, it is for players at the end of the day to give him wrong."

Premier League managers Martin O'Neill and Steve Bruce expressed disappointment at Keane early departure.

Aston Villa boss O'Neill said: "I think I've done wonderfully well in Sunderland at the beginning of his career direction.

"I am disappointed to hear that he left as when I heard that José Mourinho has left Chelsea. This is the kind of impact Roy Keane has had on football. "

While Bruce, Wigan manager and team-mate Keane at Manchester United from 1993-96, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Football is a better place when Roy is in it.

"I hope not too long before we see return. I do not think it will be long before he is back in somewhere. I wish him good luck because I love it, I've always admired him as a player.

"It is a great football person, it beats him when he loses. I hope he takes a break and returns, and I am sure he will. "

Keane took over at the Light, August 28 2006 with Sunderland bottom of the championship after losing their opening four games following relegation from the Premier League.

The 37-year-old former Republic of Ireland international guided to the top of the table and they won the championship by two points Bruce Birmingham.

Keane the first Premier League season has been mixed yet they retained their status as finishing three points clear of the drop zone with 15.

But Sunderland have the end of this fight, winning four of their opening 15 games, lost five of their last six and slip to 18.

"If this decision is there must be reasons why," said Bruce. "The last time I spoke to him, he was thoroughly enjoy it, enjoying the challenge and all parts of emploi.

"When I went there, they were in turmoil - the bottom of the championship and win.

"It needs a great personality with a strong presence walking and give it a jolt and boy did he give it a shake-up.

"Once you're in the Premier League, the focus is on you and the more often you play against big, big teams that can beat you and it is difficult.

"I can be really good it took as much as I could."
by bbcnews.