Keane suing Black Cats

Apr 27 2009 By Mark Douglas, The Journal

ROY Keane's relationship with former employers Sunderland has hit a new low after it emerged that he is involved in a row over a bonus he believes should be paid to him if the club stay in the Premier League this season.

It was reported in Ireland over the weekend that Keane is suing Sunderland over an unpaid bonus relating to his time at the club. The Journal understands that Keane’s advisors believe he is entitled to payment if Sunderland stay in the Premier League – a claim that the Black Cats will vigorously contest.

Keane resigned in early December, just four months into the season and with his expensively assembled squad 18th after a run of five defeats in six games.

Despite demoralising defeat at West

Brom over the weekend the club now stand in 15th place in the Premier League – and have carried out an overhaul of the squad since Keane left, selling many of the players that he imported.

The two parties are currently in "dialogue" about the payment but the claim has left many at Sunderland dismayed – especially in the wake of the fresh round of verbal attacks launched by their former manager in the week.

After being unveiled as Ipswich Town manager at a Press Conference on Thursday, Keane claimed "interference in team affairs" as the reason he quit the Stadium of Light.

He did not go into specifics, however, and those words have not gone down well on Wearside. His contact with Ellis Short was believed to be minimal – The Journal understands that the final conversation between the two men saw the American trying to convince Keane to stay in the job.

And while Ricky Sbragia passed on his good wishes to Keane and backed him to be a success at Ipswich, the goodwill does not seem to extend the other way.

Keane appeared to take a swipe at Sbragia when he praised Tony Loughlin during his Ipswich unveiling.

"The thing about Tony is that I know he’ll cover my back. And not all staff do that. A lot of staff get too close to the chairman, too close to the media," he said.