RICKY Sbragia has accused Roy Keane of acting like he is still Sunderland manager, and admits he is growing frustrated at the Irishman’s constant sniping, writes MARK DOUGLAS.

Keane’s return to management at Ipswich has re-opened the debate about his departure from Sunderland, although it has been a one-sided discussion so far with the former Black Cats boss driving the agenda with a stream of barbs aimed at the club he quit in December.

As well as accusing Sunderland of diluting the winning mentality that he supposedly instilled at the club, he has branded Andy Reid as unfit and implied the board’s interference in club affairs lay behind his resignation.

The Sunderland board are furious with Keane and Sbragia admits that he is mystified why his former boss appears to keen to keep raking over the ashes of his time on Wearside.

It has been suggested in some quarters that Keane has stayed in contact with some of the club’s coaching staff, and judging from recent comments he has certainly stayed up-to-date with club affairs.

Although reluctant to be drawn into a slanging match, Sbragia’s pointed replies to questions about the Irishman are an accurate reflection of the club’s desperate desire to draw a line under the Keane era.

“I don’t know what his mandate is,” Sbragia said. “It just seems that if he wants a bit of publicity, he says something. Why doesn’t he talk about Ipswich? Why is he always talking about Sunderland?

“Maybe he still thinks he’s the manager, I don’t know. I wouldn’t go and criticise Ipswich because I don’t think that’s right.

“If he wants to do that, he does it. I can’t stop him. That’s up to him. But I don’t go and talk about any other clubs and say that Man United are going through a really bad season, or that Arsenal are cr*p and are not showing any b*llocks.

“I wouldn’t say anything like that. I think he should just really concentrate on Ipswich. He’s back in football. He should enjoy it.”