Keane plans to stay beyond current deal

10:52am Tuesday 18th November 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

JUST days after his future as Sunderland boss was questioned, Roy Keane has moved to reassure fans he plans to stay in the job beyond the end of this season.

There have been two rounds of discussions between Keane’s lawyer, Michael Kennedy, and chairman Niall Quinn in the last month, and the two parties are relaxed about the fact no agreement has been reached about extending his contract.

His existing deal expires in June and after the events of the last week – when rumours were rife he had left his post – the Irishman has been forced to clarify his position.

But, despite claims of disagreements with Pascal Chimbonda and Dwight Yorke, and small sections of the fans beginning to question his work, Keane insists he is looking to carry on after the current deal expires.

“We’re just trying to build a football club,” said Keane. “Last Thursday night I was at a reserve match and our young kids from the Academy were outstanding.

Maybe I need a reminder every now and again how hard it is and how long it takes.

“This is the start of my third season.

I had a three-year plan in my mind when I took over and now it’s probably going to be a bit longer. We’ve brought players in and it takes players time to settle, no matter how good they are.”

After four successive defeats – the worst run since he took over – Keane’s spending and selections came under scrutiny. He did, however, inspire his players to a crucial three points at Blackburn on Saturday, lifting them back up to mid-table.

Promotion to the Premier League in his first season meant he was ahead of schedule in his three-year plan.

After successfully preserving top-flight status last season, Keane’s intention was to force Sunderland into the top ten this season, even though his first year heroics led to his targets rising quicker than he had imagined.

He said: “It takes time but you don’t really get time.

You just have to hope clubs are sensible enough to say ‘listen, we all know where we’re heading’ and I’m comfortable with where we’re heading.

“We’re making good progress. But when you’re losing matches, people don’t want to hear that and I understand that side of it as well.

I’m not stupid.”

Much of the progress this season will depend on the availability of their best players and, more specifically, Kenwyne Jones.

Despite only recently returning from a serious knee injury, Jones has arguably been Sunderland’s best performer in recent matches and he grabbed his second goal in consecutive matches at Blackburn.

His partnership with Djibril Cisse, who scored the winner at Ewood Park, could be the key to Sunderland’s season and Keane is well aware of that – which is why he will be keeping a close eye on events in the Caribbean this week.

Jones is due play for Trinidad & Tobago – against Cuba in a World Cup qualifier – for the first time since he ruptured medial and cruciate knee ligaments in a friendly against England in June.

“We keep talking about players getting used to each other and we’ve had injuries,”

said Keane. “We’re missing Craig (Gordon) and George (McCartney), Kenwyne’s only just come back and I don’t think he’s anywhere near match fitness, but you can only get that by playing games.”

The early return of Jones has allowed Keane to send other strikers out on loan.

Michael Chopra and Anthony Stokes have gone to Cardiff City and Sheffield United, while teenager Martyn Waghorn yesterday joined Charlton Athletic for a month.

■ Tickets for Sunderland’s game at Manchester United on December 6 (5.30pm kickoff) have sold out. The allocation was just under 2,000.