Roy too Keane to leave?

Roy Keane as a player has never backed down from a challenge. When the going got tough you could always expect Roy to be in the thick of the battle, leading the troops from the trenches. That was as a player, and his autocratic style of leadership imposed as a captain for both club and country hasn't been accepted by Sunderland players.

The over-used phrase which pundits used to describe Keane was that of "a born winner". There is no doubting his desire to win; seven Premier League winner's medals pays testament to that. But winners simply do not get along with losers, and this season has provided Keane with a real stern test, the like of which he hasn't experienced as a footballer or during his time as Black Cats manager.

Maybe Keane fears a smudge on his glittering CV? Perhaps the honour-laiden Irishman just cannot adjust to working with players who would normally be cleaning his boots. (Dwight Yorke excluded of course!) There could also be truth in the claim that Roy Keane made himself about taking Sunderland as far as he can. That in itself is an impatient claim after just one and a half seasons in the Premier League, and one season ahead of schedule following their amazing promotion campaign! Who could have imagined Roy Keane would give up so easily?

The going has got tough at Sunderland, but the man so usually tough has got going.