Roy Keane is still playing for Manchester United only because of his loyalty and sense of duty to Alex Ferguson.

Keane has admitted in his autobiography that, within hours of his expulsion after a clash with Alan Shearer in last September's 4-3 defeat at Newcastle, he decided to walk out on Old Trafford.

It took a lengthy discussion with his manager after a sleepless night to change his mind.

Keane says: "During the night I decided: 'Give it up Roy. You've got to stop hurting yourself, hurting those you love.'

My wife argued I would miss it. I said I wouldn't. Anything would be better than this madness, getting angry and frustrated, lashing out. I should go.

"Next morning I met Sir Alex at the training ground at 8 a.m. I told him I wanted to pack it in. He said it was a knee-jerk reaction."

Keane, backpedalling, told Ferguson he would, at the least, not play in the forthcoming Champions League clash with Lille.

A long walk with his dog, Triggs, then helped him change his mind even on that score.

"Ferguson had stood by me. Quitting would be a slap in the face for him - the last thing he needed when the club were struggling. I carried on for him."

Excerpts from Keane: The Autobiography are being serialised in the News of the World. He claims his team-mates' millionaire lifestyle has blunted their ambition and is specifically critical of former colleagues including Peter Schmeichel, Dwight Yorke and Mark Bosnich.

Danish goalkeeper Schmeichel upset Keane by playing to the crowd with "finger-pointing and gestures of frustration"; Yorke, now with Blackburn, is criticised for "excess after-hours" in the wake of the 1998-99 treble season; while Bosnich failed the Keane test with his "easy-going approach to the business".

Keane is bitter about the team's failure to secure a single trophy last season.

"Blaming Juan Veron is too easy. Some of the others were getting away with murder. Glory, believing the publicity, had cost us. Set up for life - then forgot about the game and lost the hunger that got the Rolex, the cars and the mansion."

Keane: The Autobiography by Roy Keane, is to be published by Michael Joseph on August 30th.

Guardian Service