Source: Telegraph
Roy Keane's refusal to commit his future as Sunderland manager is hurting his team
Roy Keane's decision to hold fire on signing a new contract is clearly undermining confidence within a squad struggling to build on last season's gallant survival mission. [LNB]When the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, took Keane to one side and revealed he had made the decision to retire there was no sentiment, no concern and no fear of what the future might hold in the eyes of the then old Trafford captain. [LNB]"I didn't think too much of it," shrugged Keane, who refuses to commit to a new contract at the Stadium Of Light. "Sir Alex spoke to me about it and it was a case of, 'Well, what do you want me to do? Cry over it'. [LNB]"If you've got anything about you as a footballer you just focus on yourself. My future and my contract situation is none of their [the Sunderland players] business. It shouldn't be an issue and I very much doubt it is." [LNB]What Keane often tends to forget is that many players at Sunderland do not share his unflinching professionalism, self-belief and focus. In the mind of one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era it matters not a jot who the club's manager will be next week, next month or next summer. [LNB]Yet the issue is clearly undermining confidence within a squad struggling to build on last season's gallant survival mission. It is no coincidence that Sunderland have lost four straight league fixtures at home at a time when Keane continually refuses to commit. Against Bolton there was a look of uncertainty and trepidation about a team teetering on the brink of a familiar fight against relegation. [LNB]There is an obvious concern on and off the pitch that such dire performances will persuade Keane to walk away from his first job in management, but he added: "I've never said I'll do that. I ask myself every day of the week [if I am the right man]. I don't think I am a quitter. Anyone who's played with me or worked with me would say the same. But managers come and go. Managers aren't that important. It's the football club that's most important." [LNB]The Bolton manager, Gary Megson, disagrees. Having watched his team recover from Djibril Cisse's sixth league goal in 12 starts after just 11 minutes, to score four goals away from home, a positive appraisal of his opposite number appeared unlikely. In fact Megson underlined the importance of Keane to an ambitious club looking to establish itself as a major Premier League force. [LNB]"Roy's done a great job at Sunderland," he said after goals from Matthew Taylor, Gary Cahill and a brace from club-record signing Johan Elmander secured a third successive away victory for Wanderers. [LNB]"I know the club were towards the lower reaches of the Championship when he took over. But I think it's more than that. The way that Sunderland are now viewed, compared to how they were viewed before Roy came to the club, is entirely different. That's purely and simply due to him coming. The Keane factor really is that important to Sunderland. Roy will do the right things. He will keep his head and not panic. They will be fine, I'm sure." [LNB]A potentially punishing trip to Old Trafford next weekend will surely intensify the pressure on Keane and Sunderland's former Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley said: "I don't know why that's happened. It's difficult to sum up. We've tried to play the right way but our own mistakes are killing us." [LNB]
