Source: Daily_Mail
Roy Keane will NOT be sacked! Ipswich chief defends his under-fire manager
Vote of confidence: Keane[LNB]Ipswich boss Roy Keane is not facing the sack, the club insisted today. [LNB]Chief executive Simon Clegg moved to put a lid on speculation that Keane was about to depart Portman Road after just 11 months in charge. [LNB]Clegg, leader of Britain's record-breaking Olympic team in Beijing in 2008 and whose appointment coincided with that of the manager in April last year, said: 'I am still fully committed to Roy Keane. It has been a disappointing season but Roy is still building his team. [LNB]'I understand there have been some speculation stories but Roy is just starting out to get us where we want to be.'[LNB] Clegg's backing is no surprise since he and the club's owner, reclusive multi-millionaire Marcus Evans, have consistently stood by him. [LNB]Evans provided an £8million transfer kitty to fund the purchases of Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards from Keane's former club, Sunderland, together with Tamas Priskin from Watford, Lee Martin from Manchester United and Damien Delaney from QPR. [LNB]Despite Keane's new-look side making the worst start to a season in the club's 73-year professional history, finally securing their first league win at the 15th time of asking, he was backed 100 per cent. [LNB]The Tractor Boys' form has shown a marked improvement since then and they have lost just six of their last 25 Championship fixtures. [LNB] But rumours that the Manchester United legend is on his way, with ex-Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley touted as a possible successor, have persisted in recent weeks. [LNB]Keane has consistently maintained that he has no fear of the sack, insisting after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Swansea: 'This speculation doesn't keep me up at night. [LNB]'There are a lot better managers than me who have lost their jobs. If you think that I'm fearful of losing my job, then don't kid yourself.'[LNB] All the fizz of the Coca-Cola Football League: Austin living a fairytaleIAN RIDLEY: The nice guys can finish first, KeaneSwansea 0 Ipswich 0: Tractor Boys rally to keep Keane in a job - for nowEXCLUSIVE: Zola vows to fight on after handing his losers a three-day break [LNB][LNB]
