Reaction: While Roy Keane's arrival at Celtic yesterday wasn't quite universally welcomed by former players and managers, Dermot Desmond, the clubs's majority shareholder, insisted that the signing of the former Manchester United captain was a coup for the club, and one that, contrary to rumours, had the full backing of manager Gordon Strachan.
Desmond also denied reports that he would be personally contributing towards Keane's £40,000-a-week wages, so that the club's strict pay structure would remain in tact. "I wanted Roy Keane but I wanted Celtic to pay for him so no, those reports are not true," he said. "The only way I dip into my personal resources for Celtic is when I subscribe for share issues. Celtic is run as any other business is run, on its own finances, with the help of the shareholders."
When told, on RTÉ's lunchtime news, that former Celtic manager Billy McNeill had said he would not have touched Keane "with a bargepole", because of his fears that he will "wreck team spirit", Desmond insisted that these concerns were "exaggerated".
"We're cognisant of comments like that but I think they're exaggerated," he said. "We believe Roy is a person who will work well with Gordon Strachan and will work well with the team. He understands Gordon's philosophy, they had a long detailed talk.
"Gordon is very comfortable with Roy, Roy is very comfortable with Gordon, so we have no fears that he will be an unsettling influence in the dressing room - on the contrary I think he will be someone who will harness all the good things that are at Celtic Football Club at the moment."
Former Celtic player Charlie Nicholas who, ironically, is said to have been a boyhood hero of Keane's, also expressed reservations about the signing from a team selection point of view. "Stilian Petrov used to play wide right for Celtic and he hated the position," he said, "so I don't see how they can play Roy Keane and Neil Lennon together without moving Petrov to the right or the left - and that is not suitable. So I think there could be a few problems and I will be very interested to see how it goes.
"Neil's contract is up at the end of the season and they're talking about another year. That might not come now with Keane signing for 18 months. People may ask how can we have two 35-year-olds sitting in central midfield."
Strachan, though, speaking at yesterday's press conference in Glasgow, insisted Keane's arrival would simply strengthen his team and give him more options. "It has given me good competition, Roy can play many positions and we have added quality and a winning mentality," he said. "He's a competitor and you can't have enough competitors in your squad so it was too good a chance to miss out on one of the world's best football competitors.
"I've always enjoyed having competitors beside me when I played and I certainly enjoy having them as a manager. As a player there is nothing better than having good players around you and that is what I have given this club."
