Roy Keane's methods are rooted in the past... he must be on borrowed time in East Anglia

By Brian McNally

Published 14:45 02/10/09

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Football history is littered with the names of great players who failed to successfully make the transition to management.

England legends Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore didn't make any big impression as bosses at Preston and Southend respectively, while John Barnes and Peter Shilton didn't tear up any trees at Celtic and Plymouth either.

Now it looks as if Ipswich boss Roy Keane, one of the most talented midfielders of his generation, is set to join the ranks of the managerial misfits.

I saw Keane's Ipswich ripped apart by Newcastle at Portman Road last week and as I surveyed their clueless, disorganised display I couldn't help but think that the volatile Irishman must be on borrowed time in East Anglia.

It could be argued that he has hardly had much time to impose himself on his new charges but to be honest they seemed totally devoid of any plan or inspiration.

Keane was handed millions at Sunderland, but after initial success in winning promotion his combative management style turned the dressing room against him.

His moves in the transfer market largely relied on buying players he knew from his playing days with Manchester United, Celtic and the Republic of Ireland.

It was a policy that didn't work with Sunderland paying big fees for players who barely improved the squad

And true to form he went back to Sunderland to sign players to rebuild Ipswich. But the early signs do not look promising.

Keane worked under two great managers in Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough. But I fear that may be his underlying problem.

It seems to me that his methods are too rooted in the past. His old-school ideas on discipline didn't work at Sunderland and already they are struggling to make any impact at Ipswich.

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