Former Town chief executive Simon Clegg has dismissed Roy Keane’s claim that they and owner Marcus Evans “never met together” in the same room during the Irishman’s 20 months as manager of the Blues and the implication that the trio’s relationship was dysfunctional.

Keane makes the assertion in his new book The Second Half, which was published earlier this week, adding that there was no chemistry between himself and Clegg, citing their different backgrounds: “As well as being an ex-Para, he was public-school educated. I was from Mayfield, in Cork.”

Clegg (pictured above with Keane following his April 2009 appointment) is currently based in Azerbaijan where he is working as the chief operating officer of the Baku 2015 European Games having left Portman Road in February 2013.

He told TWTD: “Elements of Roy Keane’s book have been read over the phone to me as it is presently not available on the shelves of the bookshops here in Azerbaijan!

“Like most biographies it is one dimensional and contains elements where the manager might not have been aware of the full facts, particularly in connection to player transfers and potential targets as handled privately by Marcus and myself.

“Despite our different backgrounds, from my perspective, I feel that Roy and I worked together well in a close and professional manner and in the best interests of the club, if he now feels differently so be it.

“I remain bitterly disappointed that despite considerable investment in the playing squad with targets he had identified the club was unable to achieve the success we all aspired to and realise the hopes and belief that surrounded the club on his appointment.

“To say that Marcus, Roy and I never met in the same room is factually incorrect (although for good reasons it didn’t happen very often) and leads the reader to think that the relationship between the three of us was totally dysfunctional.

“In my view nothing could be further from the truth until such time as both Marcus and I began to realise that a change was necessary.”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 09:59 - Oct 11 Clegg as our chief executive was like a fish out of water. Its no coincidence that since he has left we have had no "will he/wont he sign" transfer negotiations, no deals breaking down with a failure to agree personal terms, no painting of the turnstyles and worst of all " Customers are reminded to read the small print on the back of their ticket" after the middlesborough farce. Keane was ultimately a failure, but the fact the same issues carried on under Jewell would suggest clegg's tenure was an absoloute disaster

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itfchorry added 11:06 - Oct 11 Sorry Jimmy - good post - pressed the wrong arrow again !
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bobble added 11:30 - Oct 11 who cares about the dark lord or mr clog ?
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loudnproud added 12:59 - Oct 11 It is true that Marcus spent prime time away from the football club in his early days and used "video conferencing" as his tool for communicating to his club . Keane and clegg met up often for face to face meetings....Problem was the man who wrote the cheques had to be briefed also and thus why so many players slipped through the net. Keane has a chip on his shoulder about the way Sir Alex treated him and any book he writes will always include a dig or to over it. Sir Alex may be a bully in your eyes Keaneo....But with his achievements in the trophy cabinet compared to yours....My respect will go to Sir Alex.

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Crock added 17:23 - Oct 12 So Keane is a liar. Who would have thought it?
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rugbytomc added 14:20 - Oct 13 chrisswailes - absolute quality comment and that it was the first one as I could not agree more. He was disastrous for us and thank goodness he's gone. He was only there because Evans owed him a favour over the Olympic tickets and all we've done since he left is get Mick in and improve all aspects of the club. It's one thing having an owner who knows little about the sport but to then have a Chief Exec who knows even less advising him on football matters was a joke! argh! sorry - back to your comment. CLEGG OUT!

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