Roy Keane and Ireland manager Mick McCarthy are set to resume battle -this time in bookshops throughout the country - over what really happened during this year's tumultuous World Cup.
Keane - The Autobiography hit the shops yesterday and most observers in the publishing trade expect it to be a bestseller, possibly setting an all-time record for an Irish sports book. About 50,000 copies are due to go into bookshops over the next few days, said Keane's publishers Michael Joseph.
The book, ghost-written by journalist Eamon Dunphy, was well received in bookshops yesterday, with long queues forming in some places. Eason's said 5,000 copies were likely to be sold in its Dublin store alone by the end of the week.
The Irish manager, however, is not going to let the Keane version of what happened in Saipan stand uncontested. His book, Ireland's World Cup 2002, is due out on October 14th, with another large print run expected. Published by Townhouse, it is being ghost-written by sports journalist Cathal Dervan, who has trenchantly criticised Keane in the past. It will be released simultaneously into the Irish and British markets.
Both Keane and McCarthy are expected to vigorously promote their books over the next few weeks, with Keane expected shortly in Dublin, Cork and Belfast for book-signings.
In shops yesterday there were elaborate displays of Keane's book. In Eason's on O'Connell St in Dublin, a mannequin of the Cork player was erected, complete with Manchester United jersey. While early-morning trading was sparse, by mid-morning there were queues to get a copy.
Mr Martin V. Black, general manager of Eason and Son, said there had been huge interest in the book. He said he expected it to outsell books by popular authors such as John Grisham; even previously popular sports books about players like David Beckham had not attracted as much interest.
"It is a bit like a general election. At first only a few people come in the door, but soon it swells and hundreds are coming in the door," he said. He admitted that the controversy before the release had helped greatly in generating interest.
The size of the orders for the book meant that some shops, many in Cork, had to wait until lunchtime before copies arrived.
In many shops other books about this year's World Cup were also doing well. The Gaffers, by Sunday Tribune journalist Paul Howard, was also on prominent display. Its publishers, O'Brien Press, said there was serious interest in the book at this time and, if anything, the presence of the Keane autobiography helped sales.