Boss Roy Keane says he appreciates that club owner and chairman Marcus Evans has been patient with him up to now, but feels that his side need to put in a run before the end of the season if he is to continue to receive that backing. The Town manager says he deals with chief executive Simon Clegg on a regular basis, while meetings with Evans are rarer occurrences.

Keane said: “The owner’s been fairly patient with me so far, but we need to get results to get to the summer to take real stock of where we are and where we’re short.

“We don’t speak on a week to week basis, which suits me, I’m not a great one for talking. It suits the owner, obviously I know he goes to the games and we have a chief executive here.

“You’d hope there’s understanding there, but you see what happens with other managers, top, top managers and good people losing their jobs, depending on players if they fancy it on a certain night. It’s amazing that you have to work in that environment, but that’s why they say you have to be mad to be a manager, and you do.”

Keane says that contrary to a report yesterday, no meetings have so been arranged with Evans to discuss any summer plans: “No, not yet, but we know how it works at the club. I speak to the chief executive and I’ve been delighted with the support.”

The Blues boss was also dismissive of reports that Alan Curbishley has been a regular watcher of Town in recent days: “My job is not depending on what the media have to say, who’s watching the match or which managers have been linked with my job.

“That’s all the media are prepared to write about. Even though they are supposed to be writing match reports, they’re more keen on writing about who’s watching the match.”

The Town manager is less than impressed with the way some of his players' approach matches when the Blues are on their travels: “It’s the away games that are the problem. Some of our players don’t like travelling, they miss the home comforts of their dressing room.

“You look at our away record compared with our home record. The results will tell you that we’re a home team. It’s a comfort zone when you’re at home. Strange, but we’ll get it sorted out, don’t worry.”

The former Ireland captain feels the problems go back even before his time in charge at the club and understands why ex-Town boss Jim Magilton had a less than harmonious relationship with some members of his squad: “I’d like to chat with the previous manager who was here. There’s players here that I believe the previous manager fell out with and I can understand why 100%.”

Keane kept his team in the dressing room for 90 minutes after the Watford game and says on occasion things need to be brought out into the open: “Sometimes you have to get it off your chest. We’re all big boys. I’ve had a manager punch me before and he [Brian Clough] was dead right, absolutely dead right. The best thing he ever did to me.

“I can understand Brian Laws fighting with [Ivano Bonetti when he was Grimsby manager] and breaking his jaw, I can understand why Brian Clough hit me. Players drive you crazy.”

The Town boss says the more established members of his squad should be playing a greater role at the club: “I look at some of the senior players who have been here for a number of years because they are the ones who know the ins and outs of the club. I look at Pablo Couñago, Gareth McAuley, Jon Walters. These type of players have to lead the way because they know the fabric of the club.

“They should have an understanding of why the team has not pushed for the play-offs over the last few years. It’s clear we have talented players but talent alone won’t get you in the top six.”

Meanwhile, George Burley says he’d quite fancy the Bristol City job, which became vacant when Gary Johnson left by mutual consent yesterday: "They're a great club who are looking to get to the Premier League, but obviously there are a lot of people looking for jobs in football at the moment.

"However, anybody with ambition and experience would have to say they're a club which would interest them."

Photo: Action Images

Berts_chin added 09:15 - Mar 19 Message to Owen Garvan: hang in there, Keane might well be gone soon and come next season you'll be where you should be - running that central midfield with the guile and class that we've been craving.
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Gus added 09:20 - Mar 19 Keane was perfectly correct to take Garvan off on Tuesday. You know as much about their relationship as I do so please shut the hell up.
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GarvanIsGod added 09:28 - Mar 19 I'd have Garvan as he is God.
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kevinscoles added 09:32 - Mar 19 It seems to me that Owen Garvan has been at the club for several years and although I think he is a good player, he has never run the central midfield with guile and class.I remember the boos and vitriol aimed at Magilton on his last game before he was sacked,because he couldn't get us into the play offs. Apparently now players who couldn't do it then, could do it now, if we just got rid of Roy Keane. It's depressing reading all this tosh. We win two games on the trot in one of the most unpredicatable leagues ever, look at Forest losing 6 away on the bounce,and then losing away to Watford proves Roy Keane is rubbish. Everyone needs to get a grip and try supporting the team and the manager, that's all we can do,leave the undermining to the moles...

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Jimmy86 added 09:37 - Mar 19 I agree with Gus entirely, berts chin is just clearly another avid blind faith follower of Owen Garvan. im trying to find a polite way of saying Garvan isn't quite up to it, but dunno if I can. at times Garvan is absoloute pants and he appears to be quite hit and miss, this season he has def been more miss than hit tho. Ok on his day he can put in a gd performance but those days rarely come about. Too inconsistant and we should listen to offers in the summer if we get them. he's too slow and light weight and needs a lot of time on the ball for him to spray these passes of his around not quick enough for the hustle and bustle of the championship im afraid

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jamesy_itfc_keano added 09:52 - Mar 19 if we can pick 2 wins in the next 2 games, it wil be 12 points out of 15. And everyone would take that. So lets just get behind the team and keano! COYB
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hampstead_blue added 10:02 - Mar 19 Frustration reigns. Garv 'should' be running the midfield but he seems to lack some mental toughness. RK should persevere and re-visit the cardiff line-up. Dropping DW for LR was a shocker and he should learn from that. Lets face it, we are still a few players short. Patience.
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Legend added 10:04 - Mar 19 As much as a lot of people on here slag Keane off you have to feel a bit for the bloke. At the end of the day it's the players who do the talking on the pitch and look at the dross we have had to put up with.....letting in two late goals at Shef utd, Letting i late goals to West brom, watford, Barnsley, Coventry....Missing so many goal scoring chances, Not turning up for games i.e Posh & watford..........Something or someone is not right at that club. we had it under Magilton and now Keane. The never say die passion is not there anymore! Remember the Matty holland teams?? Now that is passion! Ok they might loose a few but they sure as hell gave 100% every single game. Look at Kuqi...the bloke never gave up..EVER!! Thats the sort of players we want and not the muppets who cant give a toss. I know the manager always gets the blame and the sack when things dont go right but take a very good look at the players wearing the blue and white shirt......We will see who is prepared to shed blood sweat and tears for this club against barnsley................ Our current lot do not do this

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agc232 added 10:10 - Mar 19 so lets expect curbs in the summer then!
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blu_dru added 10:12 - Mar 19 Garvan aint great
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devontractorboy added 10:17 - Mar 19 I bet keane can't still believe he's gotta job, he's laughing all the way to the bank!!
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Paulc added 10:17 - Mar 19 Why is evewryone so hell bent on Curbs? He proved it at 1 club, where he had years to get it right, if we gave him the same time with us he'd be 95 before we got promotion - probably!
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naa added 10:24 - Mar 19 kevinscoles: ".I remember the boos and vitriol aimed at Magilton on his last game before he was sacked". No you don't, because Magilton's last game was a win against Norwich. Memory is a funny thing. Not saying Magilton was popular in his last year though, because he wasn't and it was clear the pressure had got to him. As for Garvan, I'm not convinced he's the one but I do think that in our current squad he's the only player we have with his abilities and we've missed them in the long periods RK has kept him out of the team. He hasn't always performed true, but it's hard if you're in and out of the team all the time. Given the lack of better options I'd be playing Garvan a lot more often. Otherwise, not sure what to make of these comments really. On the face of it they make sense but he's essentially admitting that he has a lot of problems with some of the players. Seeing as he's dumped a lot of the old guard I'm interested to know who the problem players are, as they must be ones that he has been playing at least fairly regularly. And, if that's the case, why hasn't he replaced them yet?

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blueherts added 10:26 - Mar 19 Great , a manager who doesn't like talking and would rather punch people to get his point across Ignorant comment from a Manager of a Football Club If that is what he is like - then go find a club that works with that style - he may be out of work for some time - not the best qualities for a Manager of People - As I have said before - a manager needs to motivate , nurture and develop - if u dont talk and would rather punch may cause a problem He was , and always will be a loner - an individual - not great qualities for a manager - intimidation and fear do not work in the 21st century - go back to manager in the 70s keano if that is yer style He is showing signs of a man under pressure - I think he may end hitting someone - Garvo and Wrighty - keep a low profile !!

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pottyblue added 10:50 - Mar 19 be honest with you all I WANT TO PUNCH most of the players here .Keane was a 100% commited player and winner.his problem is the players wont come anyway near his effort that he expects and to be honest the majority are simply not good enough how many of our so called stars would get into newcastles or west broms first teams smell the coffee he has inherited a lot of mediocre players.

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devontractorboy added 10:52 - Mar 19 Well put blueherts, glad someone else on here understands what management is all about, perhaps Keaneo watched 'Life on Mars' & thinks he's DCI Gene Hunt????? Perhaps this is all a bad dream..............................
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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:53 - Mar 19 The manager is no fool, if Garvan and / or Pablo play well they will be picked, Garvan was MotM last week, then only lasted about 2/3 of the next game and 1/2 of the Watford game. It's up to him, work hard for 90 mins, play well and you will have a long career - Supple's comments spring to mind.
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byebyesheepshanks added 10:56 - Mar 19 The moment we are safe . . . . he's down the road. Curbishly coming. Like it or not, it's a done deal. Keano should get himself on a sofa in a TV studio & I guarantee he will.
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nobrain added 10:57 - Mar 19 I've felt like thumping a few of our players this season.... I agree that RK has to take responsibility - which he clearly does. However, once you are on the pitch, it's down to you.
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byebyesheepshanks added 10:59 - Mar 19 Garvan is only 22 & played over 150 games for us. I reckon that is something to be built on & admire - not to humiliate & take the pee out of. Ta dah Keano, you are no manager.
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blueherts added 10:59 - Mar 19 Keane was captain under one of the greatest MANAGERS and played in one of the best teams this country has seen - His qualities as a player are not questioned His qualities as a MANAGER are . We have to be realistic as Fans - If people asked about newcastle , WBA you would think of good champion ship who in recent seasons have struggled in the premiership - We are a Championship team - have been most of the decade - I would look at Leicester City as a team or forest we should try and emulate Maybe a season of First Division is what we need to freshen it up? Discuss I am not wishing it but looking at recent seasons it hasnt hurt some clubs May make us stronger ??

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tractorboybig added 11:02 - Mar 19 The players do the talking on the pitch? The away mentality is not right? WHO buys the players? who selects the team and squad? Then it is he he should shoulder the blame and get the sack?
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blueblood66 added 11:08 - Mar 19 Keane is 100% correct. I think he is sometimes a bit too honest, and it appears that player power os far too previlent these dyas at football clubs. If you dont perform, then you deserve a kick in. If I dont perform at work I get sacked.
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Facefacts added 11:08 - Mar 19 'Wanting to punch someone' is just frustration that the team did not perform. It's just telling it like it is. Starting badly against Watford is very frustrating, especially when we have in recent seasons usually played very well against them, yet still drawn or lost. Trying to give players like Lee Martin (who you've spent money on) chance after chance to perform is human nature because you want to prove people wrong - remember Jim Magilton persisting with Gary Roberts. None of our so called 'better' players, people keep mentioning Owen Garvan, are good enough to take us to the next level. Didn't Owen come on as a sub at Blackpool when they were down to 10 men, and do OK. To start him in a big away game, I'm afraid he is just not good enough, a mere passenger. It would make good sense to sell him this summer if anyone will have him. I just hope Roy Keane is learning all the time about how to get us up the table, before Marcus Evans' patience runs out. If Evans and Keane meet to discuss this season, it's the transfers in who've failed that worry me like Priskin, Martin, we will not be able to offload (transfer fee and wages), and Roy Keane just has to work with the players who are performing for him.

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nthstd added 11:11 - Mar 19 i think MArcus evans is a bleeding Saint for having this much patiance. Oh as for that crap about "some of the players don't like to travel" Get a grip man. What a load of complet hog wash. "mising their home comforts" nowhere in ENGLAND and WALES not Scotland mind is that bleeding far away. I have travelled 14 hours "slept" 8 hours and then run a marathon in the Artic! I'm not paid thousands of pounds a week. That is such lame garbage. get lost

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