Roy Keane setting the record straight

Roy Keane finally had his say on his second book this afternoon at the official launch at the Aviva Stadium, days after 'The Second Half' was leaked en masse thanks to some over eager Tesco staff.

The process was "really enjoyable and I'm very pleased with it," he said, and ghost-writer Roddy Doyle was the perfect foil, but if writing the book was supposed to be cathartic it may have fallen short, for the former Ireland and Manchester United captain didn't waste any time laying back into those who spread a "pack of lies" about him.

Sooner or later, he said: “I’ve got to get up and defend myself.

“I know there are people in this room who have mates that are happy to tell lies about me, and they’ll print it.”

He later added: “I’ve waited long enough, so here we go.”

Clearly not of a mind yet to let certain wounds heal, Keane added that he wasn’t sure yet as to whether he would ever “forgive” Alex Ferguson for the manner in which his United career ended.

“Eventually you will cross paths. The problem I had was when you worked with someone for such a long period of time, it is afterwards when they come out with nonsense.

“Alex Ferguson criticised players who brought him a lot of success. He’s got his statue. Why criticise people. Ridiculous.

“I don’t know, we’ll see if we ever cross paths again, I’m sure we will . . . cross paths again, that is,” he added with a wry smile.

Ferguson was another with “pals in the media”, he said. “He’s got a few here today. I can spot them.”

Keane’s demeanour, however, shifted as quickly as it did in his playing days and, like a boxer selling a fight, he kept it light at times but knew what buttons to press to plug his book.

“I had no plans to write a book. I had plenty of offers, even when people were telling a pack of lies about me.”

It’s not all about falling out with people. In fact, he insisted when he looks back on his career that he actually fell out with relatively few, but those rows that did occur were what made the headlines then and what were focused on when the book was drip fed to the public through social media this week.

“I think the book is a fair reflection on the situations I have had over the last couple of years, whether it be with players or managers, and I have been pretty harsh, probably, with myself in a lot of the situations, the mistakes I made.

“But when I did the book, it wasn’t for people to like the book, it was just about me getting a chance to reflect on certain things. If people like it, they do; if they don’t, then so be it.

“But I think it’s quite upbeat as well. There’s some good stories - I had some great days. Obviously people will focus on the negative stuff, whether it be the World Cup and obviously at United, but I had some great days and worked with some great lads, and hopefully that comes across as well.”