Defender Gareth McAuley says former manager Roy Keane was let down by some members of his squad. The Northern Irishman believes there are players at Portman Road who aren’t too sorry to see him move on.
McAuley said: "Some players he brought to the club let the manager down for whatever reason, and he has now paid the price.
"There are lads disappointed at the manager going and perhaps those maybe not so. But that’s football. We are left with the squad that we have, and we don’t know whether it will be strengthened.”
The 31-year-old, who TWTD understands has been offered a new two-year deal on the same terms as his current Town contract which is up in the summer, says he has been assessing some of his team-mates during his time out after achilles surgery.
He says some need to up their game if the Blues are to remain in the Championship: "They have not been pulling their weight, and while I’ve been injured I’ve been watching games, saying to myself ‘Is he hiding?’, ‘Is he doing enough?’
"I’m in a position where I can speak in the dressing room but not always out there on the pitch and the gaffer could not be out there making sure that his players put it in all the time.”
The ex-Leicester and Lincoln man says he has a lot of time for Keane, despite coming close to leaving the club last season: "I’ve got so much respect for the man and what he’s done. I’ve had run-ins as much as anyone, but they weren’t scary and he only cared about getting the best out of you and the best out of the club.
"Perhaps I had a different upbringing as I could take it on the chin and realise that it was nothing personal. But some of the younger players did not respond too well. It is part of their education and they have got to realise that it’s a man’s game.
"It’s been fun if not easy and tough, both mentally and physically, but I have total respect for Roy Keane and it is hard to see him go.”
McAuley is expected to be fine for Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at Chelsea, despite coming off at half-time in the game against Nottingham Forest with a hamstring injury.