Keane targets new Sunderland arrivals
Roy Keane has been given a three-year contract at Sunderland
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Tuesday, 29, Aug 2006 10:41
Roy Keane has today been confirmed as the new manager of Sunderland and has revealed he has a list of players he wants to bring in.
The former Manchester United captain has been given a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light and begins his time in charge of the Championship club today.
After an abysmal start to the season, the Black Cats players stepped up in front of Keane yesterday to claim their first win of the campaign with a 2-0 victory over West Brom.
And Keane has demanded today that his new charges "kick on" from that success and put the poor start to the year behind them.
The 35-year-old Irishman will work with fellow countryman Niall Quinn, who unsuccessfully combined his position as chairman with managing the club for the last few weeks.
The two played together for Ireland and had a much-publicised falling out after Keane walked out on the Irish World Cup squad in 2002.
But that row has been put behind the two men, according to Keane.
"I think it will be fine," the former Celtic and Nottingham Forest star said in an assured first press conference this afternoon.
"A lot of people are making a big deal of this but we've sorted things out. It's important to move on.
"I've had differences with thousands of people."
Keane said that he had a "list of 15 to 20" players who he would be attempting to bring in over the next few days before the transfer deadline on September 1st, but admitted that it would be a "bonus" if he managed to secure any new transfers.
But he has the full backing of Quinn, who took over the club this summer as part of a consortium that promised to inject money into the Wearsiders after their relegation from the Premiership last season.
"We'll back him," Quinn said. "We mean business."
"We've made a pact that we wouldn't give a figure [on how much money is available] but we'll back Roy Keane that's for sure."
He added: "I feel very proud that Sunderland can attract someone like Roy."
Keane has brought in former Leicester City coach Tony Loughlan as his head coach after failing to persuade ex-Blackburn boss Brian Kidd to join him.