Boss Roy Keane says he plans to start work this evening on improving his Town side ahead of next season. The Town manager says he was disappointed to end the season with Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Sheffield United.

Keane said: "My work starts this evening. I'll be on the phone tonight and I'm not a great one for speaking on the phone. My wife will tell you that.

"But hopefully the biggest bill the club will get from me this summer will be my phone bill. My work starts now. Most definitely. There's no switching off.

"I don't even like talking about summer holidays. We don't deserve a holiday. Of course you need to switch off physically and mentally, but this idea of people off gallivanting for eight or nine weeks isn't going to happen.

"No one likes losing but imagine if we'd won today. I might have thought maybe 'we're not that bad'.

"You always have doubts in the back of your mind - shoes, cars, holidays, your marriage - but this has confirmed it in my mind, especially those last 20 minutes. I'll be bringing in characters.

"Forget stats, ages, the country they're from or what size boot they wear. It's all about characters."

Keane, who has already confirmed that his players will be back for pre-season on June 28th, says a home loss was not the way he wanted to end the season: "It's unbelievably disappointing to finish the season like that.

"We wanted to go out on a high and our home form has been pretty decent but what could have gone wrong, did go wrong.

"The first goal was a really bad goal to give away and after going down to 10 men, we never looked like getting back in the game.

"It was very disappointing for Tom obviously, getting the red card. I had no complaints over the first booking but he got the ball for the second and sometimes you are looking for the referee in those situations to help you out but he didn't. He's a good lad though and he will bounce back.

"I looked around at the end and we looked a small team compared to Sheffield. We need big, physical men and it makes me appreciate the challenge we have here and the job I have and that job starts today."

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell feels his side’s failure to compete at the top of the division was partly down to their unsuccessful play-off campaign a year ago and it putting them behind as he sought to add to his squad: "We always feel we're a club that should be going for promotion but at the end of last season we found ourselves with 15 players out of contract.

"It left us with a big hole to fill and we'd already missed six weeks of the transfer window. We've been trying to catch up ever since.

"We couldn't get the type of player we were looking for and we had to rely on loans That leads to instability and a lack of consistency but to finish eighth is still a terrific achievement for the players.

"It'll be good to get a solid squad together and start again from scratch. We've had a colossal number of injuries and 24 debuts.

"That's completely different to having a squad of players you know and when situations are controlling you, rather than you controlling them, it makes it very hard."

Photo: Action Images

Hamish1979 added 17:34 - May 2 We need to forget about this season and get positive for the next. Three or four experienced players (including some kind of goal scorer) and hopefully things will improve. We've been very naive this season, including the manager and lessons need to be learnt. Have a nice summer
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ChambersM added 17:35 - May 2 you're a joke keane
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kentblue added 17:51 - May 2 Save the club's phone bill and just GO KEANE ! You have had over a season and your pathetic excuse is to "bring in new characters ." Let's start at the top and just bring in a new manager who can inspire the team rather than beat them into submission .
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naaridge1coly7 added 18:04 - May 2 How about starting with your resignation u plonker!
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naaridge1coly7 added 18:06 - May 2 Oh yeah and real nice touch not walking around the pitch at the end,fans will just love you forever for that!!!!
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jas0999 added 18:09 - May 2 There is a lot of work to do. Need to ship numerous dead wood out - the majority of Jim's failures for a start. Hopefully Walters will be sold as well. I am pleased the work will start tonight as it needs to.
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rikksow added 18:11 - May 2 If as has been said that Keane needs to pay decent money for a decent 20 goal a season striker why look any further than Gio, he has the potential to score a damn sight more than Murphy. Failing that how about a punt on one or both of the lads at Swindon. Paynter & Austin
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Porridge123 added 18:16 - May 2 You guys need to calm down and stop getting on Keano's back. He's acknowledged that some players just havn't worked hard enough. I would rather have people at the club like keane in character than those with the character of Priskin who already wants to move on rather than fight for a place
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stiffshorts added 18:17 - May 2 if you listened to Roy on radio suffolk this evening his reason for not doing a "lap of honour" was that he was embarassed! He admitted he had nothing to celebrate and was starting work tonight to put it right. Well done for your honesty Roy, it's a pity some of those overpaid prima donnas could'nt behave with the same integrity. Good luck for next season Roy and whatever you do, get rid of the deadwood, now!

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Jesney_Havoc added 18:21 - May 2 For what it's worth I thought we were unlucky today - for much of the game we were the better side. Andy D'Urso ruined the game (again). We've lost and drawn many games this season and got what we've deserved as the inferior side, but not today, I thought this was a poor result from a justice point of view. I think the squad is good enough from a skills point of view, just lacking organisation tacktics and confidence. Hopefully a good platform for next season.

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Mark added 18:25 - May 2 All of Keane's "work" this year has got us into this mess. We were awful again today, and I did not expect much better when I saw we started with one-up-front and with a centre-back (Smith) playing left-back. It really was the story of the season: a defensive line up with loads of changes from the previous match, and key players left out (but worse - released from their contracts - now in the case of D.Wright). I think we need to invest in pace, skill and goal scoring ability over the summer. I get the feeling Keane will look for experienced defensive players however.

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SurreyITFC added 18:27 - May 2 Keano I am 100% behind you! Start your work tonight & you will get us to where we belong by the end of next season. Hooper & Chopra for starters please Keano Keano Keano
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kentblue added 18:33 - May 2 Stead14 - Are you for real ? How can you be behind a manager who has mismanaged - fallen out with many- and has not delivered ?! Where does this "blind" loyalty come from ? The man is a liability the club could do WITHOUT !
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DrJeckyll added 19:00 - May 2 stead 14, i'm with you and behind Keane 100% too, most of this idiots on here dont have a clue about football or any other professional sport, i would be embarrassed to keep spouting the sh*te they do, and they funniest thing is they must sit back with a contented smug self congratulating smile on their faces when they finish typing, when the truth is they just make themselves look retarded. On the bright side, the last 2 times we finished 15th in this league we have gone on to be champions the following season

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Suffolk_n_Good added 19:15 - May 2 Judging by the noises coming out of PR it appears as if ME has decided to stick with Keane & back him with more money, I like many others had my doubts about Keanes appointment in the first place & was one of those calling for his head earlier in the season. I'm sure ME must be disappointed by our season, but if our owner feels he needs to give Keane more money & back him I believe we as fans should do too. I don't think Keane can take the blame for everything, some players need to have a good look at themselves over the next few weeks & ask themselves if they have given 100%, I would imagine very few of them if honest would think they had. All managers inc. Ferguson, Wenger & Benitez sign players they believe will do a job, to then find that it hasn't worked out. I think we are sometimes guilty of thinking ever player we sign will work out to be the next Rooney!! As much as we all love our club, we have to be realistic & accept that for some years now we have been an average Championship team, & things do need to be changed from the bottom up, I think we would all agree that we have some V.good players, but over the years we have been "too nice", football has changed & as a club we have to change too. Lets see what signings the following weeks bring, & which less than 100% players leave, & hit the new season with a new hope.

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SurreyITFC added 19:19 - May 2 kentblue - who do you want in charge? what would happen if that person has a bad season? Let me guess - you will slate that person as well! If you are a true fan get behind your club and support them and the man in charge! otherwise P... off and support Norwich!!!!!
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SouperJim added 19:22 - May 2 Today was terrible. The worst end of season in the time I've been a fan. However, my loyalty is not blind. The people who think 4-5-1 is a defensive formation, think Walters should be sold and the team built around Pablo, the people who can't see and/or don't understand what Keane is trying to overcome here and think all those who support him are stupid or just star-struck, those are the people who are blind.

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jamesy_itfc_keano added 19:29 - May 2 Well said Dr Jeckyll ... people need to get behind the team and the players. The owner has made his dicision, we are going to back the manager and give him some money to spend. GET BEHIND THE TEAM or SUPPORT SOMEONE ELSE !!!
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RetroBlue added 19:31 - May 2 Nothing like a good old knee jerk reaction by some on here again. FFS Keane gave some of the youngsters a run out as a reward 9I suspect fro their progress over the season). We had a 17 yr old rookie up front on his own (Murphy , Healy both returning to sunderland). We had no delaney at CB and why play players you have no intention using next season? So the kids get a run out. It was literally men vs boys in many areas of the team today. FFS see the bigger picture you cretins !

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ChambersM added 19:32 - May 2 porridge123: You say that but if priskin did stay, and keane didnt play him and kept him on the bench you would moan at priskin for doing nothing and then collecting his ridiculous salary at the end of the week!
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danknott added 19:33 - May 2 Embarassed is a under statement!! Cant belive today, shameful!! Chopra? are you joking the guys got a freaking gambling problem thats worse than keanos dog fighting love!!! We are in big trouble and its going be another long hard season for us fans!!! Keano in we trust but when is the light going to shine?? Half the squad should be hung drawn and quarted!! My mum has more passion than most of the squad and she prob can defend better than we can!!! What a high to end on!!!

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WashbrookBlue added 19:37 - May 2 The only thing that is more depressing than an inept end to the most inept season I've experienced in 40 years is the likes of Dr Jeckyll and Stead14 abusing those that objectively highlight our deficiencies and hold the clubs manager accountable. This arrogant claiming of the supporting high ground that bizarrely assumes that anyone who criticises the unavoidable failure of management in every respect this year is somehow a 2nd class non fan is as pathetic as it is ignorant. I have read some pretty thought through, objective and credible summaries of how ALL supporters have been let down this year through a craven waste of money, inept selection, confusing tactics and zero entertainment. We are asked to have some confidence that somehow that this will be different next year. That keane now knows what he needs (whilst last yeat he was guessing?) , that next year we'll have "characters" (instead of sulky boys like Edwards priskin and Martin - about £5mn by the way) , that next year we'll be chasing the likes of Blackpool Swansea and Doncaster harder. Maybe. Hopefully yes. But that's the rub isn't it? "Hope" is about the only thing you can put forward for why that is believable. All the evidence points to the fact that RK is just one of the many many top , talented players that just don't know how to translate their personal talent into geting the best out of others. I don't doubt how badly he wants it , don't doubt how embarrassed he is by his failure , don't doubt how hard he'll be working to turn it around - just don't think he's got it , and no one else can put forward a credible argument based on this season to the contrary (hence the mindless abuse of those who criticise). He's a lucky man to have such a balanced, supportive owner as Evans who is either truly a statesman like leader who can resist siren voices when the going gets tough or a man with more money than sense. Place your bets. All I know is that every available shred of evidence suggests that we're going nowhere , but then when does football ever comply with rational logic. Enjoy the summer hoping.

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Surco72 added 19:38 - May 2 As always jekyll you spout i love Keane crap and keep telling us it will get better it is you who looks retarded because nothing has improved at all this season , i have watched every league game this season and have had very few highlights in an awful year of dour football and results . And if you are going to talk about brightsides we finished 15th at the end of the 2005-2006 season and i for one dont recall us winning the championship after that but maybe in your cuckoo land it may have happened

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kirbs added 19:45 - May 2 same old, the pro keaners attacking the anti-keaners saying go and support anuther team bla bla bla, we shouldnt have any of magiltons dead wood here keane had £8 million to spend and we are worst off, atleast magilton had us just outside the play offs. Why dont the pro keaners f*** off and support sunderland or northern ireland! We can see that keane is epicaly failing and so we want the best for town! Keanooo out!

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RetroBlue added 19:45 - May 2 oh happy days ....and happy Ipswich Town fans "infighting" as usual !
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