Soccer

Ipswich boss insists Keane's job is safe

Soccer: Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg has declared Roy Keane's job as manager is safe despite their dismal start to the…

Wed Sept 30 2009 - 01:00

Soccer:Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg has declared Roy Keane's job as manager is safe despite their dismal start to the season.

The Tractor Boys are still without a win this season and, despite a creditable 3-3 draw at Sheffield United last night, the club still dropped to the bottom of the Championship.

On arrival towards the end of last season Keane announced that he had a two-year plan to get the East Anglia club into the Premier League.

That plan looks to be a distant dream at present but Clegg is adamant that the board is still right behind their manager.

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"I think we all share in the disappointment of our fans and that is equally felt by the manager and the players as well," he said. "It's not where we want to be and the challenge is to turn it around."

Asked if Keane's job was secure Clegg responded: "Absolutely secure. Roy continues to enjoy the complete and absolute support of the owner and myself.

"I very much feel I and the rest of the club support him and that will continue."

Clegg highlighted that he did not feel the Corkman would walk away from the job and he backed the team to turn around their fortunes sooner rather than later.

"We have not had any discussions along those lines (Keane resigning)," he added.

"I think he was trying to articulate along the lines that ultimately the responsibility of results does rest on the shoulders of the manager.

"We need to get a win and we need to move up the championship table and I am confident we will do that in the next couple of weeks.

"I think if you see the way we have played in the last few away games, six away goals in the last two away games.

"I thought (we played) some really good football at Sheffield United, I thought we were bitterly and somewhat unlucky to be 3-1 up with 13 minutes to go and only come away with a point.

"I think we also need to recognise we are not even a quarter of a way into the season yet so there is no need to panic at this moment in time.

"We are in no way trying to dilute the fact that we are not where we want to be, we need to address that and we will address it and things will change."