Caretaker-manager Ian ‘Charlie’ McParland says Town’s coaches and players were shocked to hear of manager Roy Keane’s sacking when they arrived at Playford Road this morning. McParland will take charge of a much-weakened Blues side in the FA Cup at Chelsea on Sunday with midfielder Jake Livermore also now ruled out of the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to the press this lunchtime, one-time Notts County manager McParland said: “I’m still a bit shocked at the minute. I didn’t really know what was going on until this morning. It’s always a shock when a manager leaves a football club.

“The coaches are disappointed, the players are disappointed , the lads were quiet to start with. They were a bit shocked, but they got on with it.”

The Scot says he talked to his former boss earlier today: “I spoke to Roy this morning. Roy’s a professional and a proud man, and he’s a human being, let’s not forget that, he’s going to be upset. If you were to get sacked from a job, you’d be upset.

“But he’s a tough cookie and he’ll go on to be a good manager. No, he’s a good manager now, he’s had success at Sunderland. He’ll be fine.”

The Blues coach, who says he has no intention of applying for the job full-time and expects to move on when a new manager is appointed, says it’s often a fine line between success and failure for managers: “In football there are very small margins. Lots of managers will say the same things — games that you could have won, small dividing lines between being successful and not so successful and climbing that table.”

McParland dismissed suggestions that Keane ruled his squad by fear: “I think a lot of people have got the wrong impression of Roy Keane. Roy Keane is a fair, fair man, a fair, honest man.

“Like any other manager you have your moments with players, but sometimes they deserve it. There’s this persona of Roy Keane, but you couldn’t meet a better man than Roy Keane.”

The 49-year-old says he will sit down and look at picking the team for Chelsea on Saturday once the shock of Keane’s departure has diminished.

Central defender Gareth McAuley looks likely to be fit after suffering a hamstring problem on Monday, but loanee midfielder Jake Livermore has a groin injury and has been ruled out, despite having been given permission to play by Spurs.

McParland says defender Darren O’Dea’s clearance from Celtic is “90% there” with the Blues now without Jack Colback, who was recalled by Sunderland yesterday.

Grant Leadbitter is suspended after being red-carded against Nottingham Forest, while Rory Fallon is cup-tied having represented Plymouth earlier in the competition. Brian Murphy (broken ankle) and Shane O’Connor (ruptured shoulder) are longer term absentees.

Photo: Action Images

the_gospel added 15:30 - Jan 7 yeh right. Chinny chin chin
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katemoss added 15:31 - Jan 7 What a dim bunch. 'McParland and Players Shocked By Keane's Exit'
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Lightningboy added 15:31 - Jan 7 Maybe Evans is waiting to see how we do under McParland before making his final decison?
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Dissblue added 15:34 - Jan 7 Which planet have they been on?
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nobrain added 15:36 - Jan 7 Interesting that McParland makes some very favourable comments about RK - clearly he's not a man who is worried about MEs reaction to that......
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AYACCA added 15:39 - Jan 7 i'd play: Fulop Brown macauley Smith Kennedy Norris Hyam Peters Wickham Scotland Priskin Just go for it. Nothing to lose
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BlueVelvet added 15:43 - Jan 7 It was coming, but when it comes its always a shock - just like death. Man management and leadership is key to any managerial role, whatever the job, and different siutations call for different styles and temperament. Players are payed good money to play and should be expected to plat their hearts out - but as we know some are just there for the pay cheque - they are the ones who need to be given a rocket and then shown the exit. Mr Clegg should take some of the flack for what has happened. He with ME appointed RK. RK didn't make a self appointment! The diff is that Oly(mpics) Clegg retains his job. Get a grip Oly, or you must be next out of the door.

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bleedblue added 15:43 - Jan 7 AYACCA - I likle it!!
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clive_baker added 15:45 - Jan 7 Talk about injuries, cup ties and suspensions all you like but with the exception of Leadbitter, how many would get near our starting XI anyway? Personally i like O'connor but he's only started 2 games this season! Similarly Livermore hasn't been a regular and Fallon has only been here 5 minutes. Fulup, McAuley, Smith, Delaney, Kennedy, O'Dea, Brown, Peters, Norris, Civelli, Healy, Edwards, Priskin, Scotland and Wickham all fit. 16 players right there.

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stiffshorts added 15:47 - Jan 7 shocked?? I'm shocked they're shocked, shocking isn't it???
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BlooooCD added 15:48 - Jan 7 AYACCA For next manager!!!! ha ha! Good idea - throw what we have at them... albeit not a lot! nothing expected and they are a forec to be taken on Sunday! Looking forward to the day out.. Beer, banter and chat about the team/club/new manager and miles away from the wife! lovely lovely! In response to the headline... No wonder we were losing if our coaches and players are so thick they are shocked by Keane getting sacked! I am shocked McParland is still here too! COYB's! Blooooooooooooo Army!

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CGH added 15:53 - Jan 7 I'm hoping Priskin returns to the side, possibly even would be nice to see Luca Civelli in the 18.
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brian_a_mul added 15:53 - Jan 7 Love the optimism AYACCA but Peters cant play in the middle. I think we have no choice but to go 4-4-2 with Norris and Hyam in the middle or Healy if Hyam cant make it. Could be time for Wickham to set up to the plate!
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blueblood66 added 15:55 - Jan 7 the players will feel responsible for the managers sacking, it's what they haven't done that has resulted in him going. They are bound to be a bit shocked. Some supporters are clueless sometimes, or perhaps too young to look at things objectively.
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CavendishBlue added 15:57 - Jan 7 Wouldn'yt disagree with that starting lineup. The start of the rot was when he 'rested' Hyam who had looked like he'd been playing there for years.
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Baconking22 added 16:05 - Jan 7 Were they really shocked?? I mean a manager who has not lifted us above the bottom half of the table and in his last match gestured to fans!!! He was always going, plus the board had to act by either backing him or not and it seems not. The writing wall was on the wall as well when Mr Evans didn't want anymore of his many wasted on medicore players who eventually get sent out on loan. Now it feels like Christmas all over again, the excitement of a new manager is always something to look forward to. Sorry Keane, nice try, but not good enough yet for us, bring on the future, Come on You Blues.

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TimmyH added 16:13 - Jan 7 the words 'head' 'sand' and 'ostrich' comes to mind!
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8ashblue added 16:19 - Jan 7 maybe the players are in a bubble and didnt see it coming but depite Mcparland comments (which i agree with) that RK was very fair, the sad thing for us is that it didnt work. Many reasons of course some of which are still with us Clegg and Evans for starters! The list of available managers seems endless but many are not winners so whoever clegg is talking to i just hope that it wont be a panic as we can't afford another cock up! Big Sam would be interesting but not sure about Jewel who's been out of picture for a while. If clegg expects to have it sorted by next week then it must be someone who's available and they've alrerady spoken to. Otherwise he's taking a big gamble!!

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petermorris added 16:22 - Jan 7 Bet he's not as shocked as Klug was when he was fired. Wish we had him now.
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IITFC1948 added 16:25 - Jan 7 Yes Roy Keane was a nice man,met him up the training ground a TRUE GENTLEMAN, took time out to speak to everyone.Thanks Roy and all the best
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Dorsetblue added 16:36 - Jan 7 The players have been protected by Keane and now he has gone it will be interesting how they get on. My idea would be go for it, we don't want to be in the cup and Chelsea are not doing too well so bugger it and go for them. They wont be expecting it....
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O2BITFC added 16:40 - Jan 7 Does anyone here really believe they were shocked!! god help us if they are, they would have to be the thickest bunch ever
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Surco72 added 16:55 - Jan 7 We are the worst form team in the country and they are shocked !!
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jas0999 added 16:59 - Jan 7 "Roy's a professional and a proud man, and he's a human being, let's not forget that, he's going to be upset. If you were to get sacked from a job, you'd be upset". Couldn't agree more. Before posting a nasty comment about Roy, perhaps we should also consider how we would feel if we'd just been sacked ... I have no doubt that Roy Keane had the best intentions. Clearly it didn't work out - which in my opinion is a real shame, but that's life and football. It's now up to ME and Clegg to appoint a better option - a manager with a better management record than Roy. That person according to the stats is certainly not Jewell.

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whoppit added 17:10 - Jan 7 I think the players will get over the shock?? of Keane leaving pretty quickly. Just watch some players coming out and telling us what we all suspect already and that is Keane is a nutjob who falls out with players, moody, no motivational skills etc. As for our dearly departed leader, wait until his payoff cheque clears and then he will start having a go at us through the Irish Times. Good Riddance Roy you numpty. As for the replacement? Martin O'Neill, Martin Jol LOL. Some of you lot are on the "pop" a little too early aren't you? And the ones who want Butcher must be blissfully unaware that the man is almost as clueless as Keane when it comes to management. Jewell, Curbs or Megson are the names that are realistic.

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