Miller listed for persistent lateness, Keane reveals
Thursday, 28 Feb 2008 13:01
Sunderland boss Roy Keane is renowned as a tough disciplinarian
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has revealed he transfer-listed midfielder Liam Miller because he is regularly late for training.
The Republic of Ireland international was made available for loan this season, or a permanent transfer in the summer, because his time-keeping is poor.
But Keane, who is renowned for being a stickler for discipline like his managerial mentor Sir Alex Ferguson at
Manchester United, did admit Miller could still have a future with the Black Cats if he changes his ways.
"This about time-keeping, it's nothing to do with talent," the Sunderland boss told the club's official website.
"I've said that if you want to be a top footballer you need a lot more than talent and you certainly have to be on time for training.
"Liam has been late on a regular basis and I've got to be fair to everyone at the club - to his team-mates, to the staff and to the supporters.
"If players cannot be on time then they haven't got a future at this club, we've made that clear."
The 27-year-old appeared for the club's reserve team last night and Keane admitted he was "probably [the second team's] best player" in a 1-0 defeat to
Bolton Wanderers' reserves.
The manager added Miller would still be considered for first-team selection while he remains a Sunderland player, but said he would first need to adapt to Keane's hard-line approach to discipline.
"I have to look at the bigger picture and that's the overall welfare of Sunderland Football Club," he concluded.
"I set high standards but that's what this club needs."