Delaney hits back at arch critic Keane

Feb 18 2008 By Ian Parkes, The Journal

ROY Keane has been handed a dose of his own medicine via a stinging rebuke from Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney.

Keane has often been critical of the FAI and their methods and recently slated the Association for doing “everything backwards.”

Delaney feels that in attracting Giovanni Trapattoni as Republic manager last week, Sunderland boss Keane can have no grounds to now point an accusing finger. And Delaney has decided to snap back at Keane.

“The only criticism I’d have of Sunderland would be their manager giving his weekly report about Irish football, Cork hurling and all that he does,” said Delaney. “We don’t comment on the players he’s bought or where they are in the league. So I think he should get on with managing Sunderland and stop commenting on a regular basis about the FAI.

“He looks very good on deflecting from his own issues. I think what he should do is concentrate on what he has to do. If anything we have been supportive of what they (Sunderland) are doing with the Irish connection in that regard. From my point of view, he should get on with his job.”

Delaney added: “The inaccuracies that come out from him are what bothers me, like last week he said we cut corners. But (Sunderland midfielder) Liam Miller was injured (in the friendly defeat) against Brazil. He should remember only two or three countries insure their players, and we’re one of them.

“So we do our business properly in that regard. It’s the constant looking to the past and not understanding what we’re about today. That’s one simple example of where he gets it wrong.”

Meanwhile, former Sunderland trialist Kiki Musampa is having a one-week try-out with Major League Soccer side Toronto FC, who are managed by former Newcastle coach John Carver. Ex-Black Cats Carl Robinson and Daniele Dichio are already at the Canadian club.