Roy Keano out at Sunderland

Sunderland announced this morning that Roy Keane has left his position as manager of the club. Keane had held crisis talks with the club’s board on Thursday morning. After which, it was decided that the two parties would go their separate ways.

Keane’s position has been placed under a great deal of speculation, which makes the timing of his “firing” surprising. Sunderland goes to Old Trafford this week, and then has big-crunch games against Hull, Blackburn and West Brom. Six points from these last three games would have moved Sunderland up to mid-table.

No news on who will replace Keane yet, but I am sure that the old names like Sam Allardyce (a former Sunderland player) and Alan Curbishley will be prominent in the papers as possible candidates.

In Keane’s 100 games as manager, he earned 42 wins and 17 draws, with 41 losses. His impressive start to life in management saw him touted as a successor to Sir Alex Ferguson. But, with his strong-willed character seeing him walk away from Sunderland, and no financial need to continue to work after his successful playing career, there must be serious doubt as to whether he would want to continue in management.