Club and country feel Roy's wrath

Republic of Ireland international Roy Keane will have an opportunity to discuss any problems he has with the way he and the rest of the squad is treated when on international duty before the trip to Estonia in June, a spokesman for the FAI said yesterday.

In common with Bernard O'Byrne, who first reacted to the player's comments while in Cyprus last month, the official expressed surprise at Keane's remarks to the English football magazine Four Four Two.

"I would have thought that the players are treated well on the trips, the hotels are always good, the food tends to be in line with what the players want and the training facilities are the always the best that we are in a position to provide," he said, "but everybody will have an opportunity to sit down and discuss any grievances there might be between now and the time the squad heads off to Estonia."

The association's president, Pat Quigley, meanwhile, expressed some surprise at the latest complaints, remarking that, "when this first came to our attention in Cyprus we said that if Roy Keane had a problem he should talk to Mick McCarthy. Since then we've heard nothing about the matter, but I would repeat what was said at the time."

The Corkman's latest outburst - which comes in an interview due for publication in a month's time - regarding the treatment of players by the association centres on the travel arrangements to and from international games with Keane strongly criticising a situation whereby players can be cramped up in economy seating on flights of four hours or more only a couple of days before games.

He also singles out an incident last year when, prior to the Holland game, the players were at one point offered a choice of sandwiches rather than a proper meal.

Keane's Manchester United teammates, meanwhile, again come in for a bit of a going over from their skipper who accuses them of complacency and "going through the motions". He goes on to say it is up to Alex Ferguson to sort out the problem although he adds that, "maybe I'll help him".

The Irishman subsequently admits that he is not particularly close to any of his clubmates, remarking that, "Everyone has their own life. Anyway I don't think I've ever given any of them my phone number."

The remarks are not the first time this season that Keane has been fiercely critical of his fellow stars at Old Trafford, with the midfielder having repeatedly stated that he did not believe that some of the other members of the squad were as dedicated as they should have been to the club's European campaign.

But the latest interview coincides with an attack on the player by Keane's first manager in England, Brian Clough who made some outspoken remarks of his own in an interview with the Sun.

In the aftermath of Keane's appalling challenge on Alfe-Inge Haaland last weekend Clough said: "If Manchester United's manager does not sort the lad out he runs the risk of losing his own credibility.

"It was one of the worst fouls I have ever seen in all my time playing, managing and watching football. I would have thought Ferguson would have made it his business to see a television replay if he hadn't seen what happened."

Clough, who introduced Keane to first team football in England while the player was still in his teens and managed him for three seasons went on to say that the player is becoming United's "Al Capone".

"I suppose they'll fine him. Fining players is the easy bit. the hard part, the testing and difficult side of management, is when you have to grasp a particularly large and difficult nettle.

"That stage has been reached with Keane at Old Trafford. Alex Ferguson should not only fine him, but take him to one side and tell him in no uncertain terms that enough is more than plenty. He can wrap his arm around his shoulder if he wants, but he has to give Capone both barrels."