Emotional Quinn Reflects On Keane

Irishman Roy Keane's reign in the Stadium of Light hotseat was a tumultuous one. The hard-line rookie boss was quick to discipline players and quick to replace them with big money signings, too, as he sought to turn Sunderland, previously a yo-yo club, into a Premier League force.

He got about halfway through that job before he seemingly lost the dressing room and the will to battle on, walking out on Thursday.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has said that the decision was Keane's alone, contrary to reports, and that it wasn't taken lightly.

The former striker also hinted that the job perhaps came too soon for Keane, who surged into high profile management as soon as his playing days ended.

Quinn said of Keane, who becomes the fifth Premier League boss to move on this season, "We have and should all have a huge respect for Roy Keane. He lifted this place off its knees. It's a shame things happened this way; the people were dancing in the streets of Sunderland just a few weeks ago.

"We tried to find a solution together for three days - one in the best interests of the club. In the end it's an amicable agreement.

"Roy and I were a partnership... that's dissolved now. I know him too well to try and talk him out of it.

"Now he can do a few things he didn't get to do when his career ended. He can recharge now and the Premier League hasn't seen the best of him.

"Roy is his own harshest critic and didn't want us to find ourselves in deeper, darker territory.

"He brought more than just his presence here. He was instrumental in developing a winning mentality and new standards. We also have a brilliant set of players.

"Now someone else can come in and do more."

Indeed, few feel that we've seen the last of Roy Keane. Time will tell, though, what kind of squad Keane has really built when a new boss comes in.

--Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com