Mick to quit if Keane returns

13 April 2012

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy will quit if he is forced to take back Roy Keane for a second time.

McCarthy has told his FAI employers to forget about any reprieve for Keane after sending home the Manchester United star in disgrace yesterday.

The re percussions reached the top in Irish politics when Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern became involved in an attempted reconciliation.

The FAI and Keane's camp contacted the Taoiseach's office and Ahern expressed his willingness to act as a mediator if it would prove useful.

As the day progressed, though, it became apparent that any intervention would come too late as McCarthy made it clear he would resign.

Keane was today flying back from Tokyo to England on a plane sent by United as McCarthy's World Cup squad, now down to 22 players, switched training camps to Izumo City in Japan.

McCarthy, who accepted Keane's U-turn after his initialwalkout on Tuesday, ruled out another comeback for the midfielder.

McCarthy said: "I took back Roy Keane once this week. I will not take him back a second time.

"As long as I'm in charge of Ireland's team he will not play for us. After what he said to me, I could not tolerate his return to the squad. Earlier this week, I listened to people tell me he wanted to reverse his decision and come back into the fold first time around. This time he has no chance.

"I'm in charge of team affairs and if it ever happens that someone else tries to force a player on me, I will quit."

Keane was left in no doubt that it was one out or all out as his World Cup came to a premature end in Saipan.

He was sent packing after a foul-mouthed attack on McCarthy at a meeting called to discuss Keane's training camp gripes. As Keane labelled McCarthy a "w***er", he was challenged by several Irish players to put up or shut up. Reports this morning claimed the players cheered when the manager told Keane he was out. It is also claimed Keane said to McCarthy: "You don't know what you're f***ing doing. You're a c**p manager and coach and you're a c**p person."

Keane cited personal reasons behind his initial decision to quit and there was speculation today these were "marital".

Paul McGrath, the former Ireland and Manchester United defender, today backed Keane. He said: "We had great hopes for this World Cup, but they've been blown apart by idiotic management." Irish fans have flooded the switchboards of radio and television phone-in shows to express their anger at Keane's abrupt exit.

"It's black armband time," admitted Daire O'Brien, presenter on Dublin's NewsTalk FM.

Almost 10,000 people rang up a radio phone-in show in one hour as news of the bust-up filtered back to Ireland. A massive 86 per cent sided with Keane.

McCarthy confirmed that Charlton skipper Mark Kinsella will take Keane's place in the starting line-up when the Republic take on Hiroshima in a friendly in Japan tomorrow.

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