Former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland defender Denis Irwin has criticised Roy Keane for the timing of his controversial autobiography. Keane has sparked outrage with the book, in which he criticises some of his Old Trafford team-mates by claiming their wealth has affected their focus on chasing success.
Irwin, a fellow Cork man and former room-mate of Keane's, told the Cork Evening Echo: "I am surprised he wrote this autobiography when he did. Not for the first time in his career I think he got the timing wrong.
"I don't know why he decided to go ahead and get the book ghost-written and I am surprised he did a book in the first place. He would be the first one to give someone stick in the dressing room if they'd done something similar.
"It could be more trouble than it's worth. He's had a pop at several players who have since left Manchester United, like Mark Bosnich, Dwight Yorke and Peter Schmeichel. He's had a pop at a few inside the club without actually naming them but they know who they are, and he's had a major pop at Mick McCarthy."
Irwin, now at Wolves, added: "I am sure there are one or two players who will come back at him, but he's got to expect that.
"Roy is a very strong character; he wants the best and from what I have heard about Saipan I would back him to the hilt in all of that.
"But Mick McCarthy is bringing out a book and he's going to have his opinions. It can't all be one-sided."
Meanwhile, Alf Inge Haaland has said he blames Keane for the injury problems which have ruined his career in the last year - but he has refused to comment on whether he will take legal action.
Keane's apparent revelation in his autobiography that he deliberately tried to injure Haaland in the Manchester derby 18 months ago has left him open to the prospect of being sued by both City's insurers and the player.
Haaland said he did not want to comment on the possibility of legal action but did say that Keane's tackle had been the beginning of months of despair. "I can only state that the period since that particular match has been difficult," said the Norwegian. I've never been fully fit since that episode."
Sunderland last night tried to diffuse a row with Belgian local government officials after the club refused to comply with demands for seven players to undergo drug tests following a friendly match.
The row began following the July 31st match against Royal Antwerp, with Sunderland accused of obstructing Flemish government-ordered tests to go ahead.
In the Antwerp region of Belgium, the Flemish government employ a team of doctors who go to all pre-season games to administer doping tests.
It is a by-law of that region that the tests are taken, and the Flemish government want Sunderland to be fined.
Sunderland's director of football operations Mark Blackboure said: "The issue we had was that seven players were requested (for tests) when in England it is usually two.
"We were totally unaware of the Belgian Football Association's new practice of testing seven players and at the time thought that this was excessive and contrary to normal practice.
"In addition to this the instructions/guidelines on drug testing that were supplied to us were in Flemish with no translation available."
Gustavo Poyet's Tottenham future could be on the line after he damaged a cruciate knee ligament for the second time in his career. The Uruguayan midfielder (34), will be out for up to eight months after breaking down on his return to full training with Spurs following what he believed was a minor knee injury sustained in a pre-season friendly at Gillingham last month.
