Times: RK Watch …
England’s victorious Ashes cricketers were not the only ones to come to regret taking to the streets in an open-top bus in 2005. Sunderland’s foot-ballers did so, too, and Roy Keane has put a halt to plans to mark their promotion to the Barclays Premiership this season in similar four-wheeled fashion.
The club launched a charm offensive yesterday to ensure that they are not cast as party-poopers after the decision to leave thousands of disappointed supporters with little further opportunity to show their appreciation of a season that, even by their recent roller-coaster standards, has taken followers on a nine-month odyssey of rare vicissitudes.
It is a journey that could culminate in the title returning to Wearside for the second time in three seasons, but not one that will be rounded off by a triumphant Keane hoisting aloft the Coca-Cola Championship trophy on a sedate top-deck tour of the city.
Having restored fire to bellies, the Sunderland manager does not want to be forced to remove egg from faces two years after the previous such celebration, when Mick Mc-Carthy’s class of 2004-05 were relegated within 12 months as a spectacularly dismal season culminated in a top-flight record low total of 15 points. The city council’s invitation to a civic reception has been politely declined.
“We discussed the idea of going round on an open-top bus, but to me that’s a bit much, I have to say,” Keane said. He will celebrate his remarkable achievement of overseeing a rise from second-bottom to second-top in a little more than eight months at a low-key function for players, staff and their families on Monday. “The fans probably won’t get a chance to celebrate with the players, but the club’s done that a few times over the last few years and ended up with egg on their face by going back down.”
Niall Quinn urged supporters to embrace the bigger picture for the motives behind the decision. “We hope they don’t think we’re spoiling the party,” the Sunderland chairman said. “We’re immensely grateful to the city council, but we feel this is only the beginning of our journey. This is a statement of intent because we feel we’ve simply got the club back to where we should be – among football’s elite.”
The decision was taken with stoicism in Wearside’s corridors of power. “We know the people of Sunderland would like to show their appreciation, but we understand the club’s view,” Bob Symonds, the city council leader, said.
Luton Town, scene of Sunderland’s final match of the season on Sunday, will bear the brunt of the ramifications. Kenil-worth Road, with a little more than 10,000 seats, is unable to accommodate the 20,000 Sunderland supporters expected to converge on the Bedfordshire town for a final opportunity to salute their heroes, who will claim the title with victory if Birmingham City, the leaders, fail to win away to Preston North End.
Keane, who will be represented at the second legs of this evening’s Uefa Cup semi-finals, said that his transfer planning for next season is at an advanced stage, with a buy-British approach augmented by a Europe-wide search hoping to bring in targets to “excite” supporters. Inevitable speculation about an enclave of Keane’s high-profile former Manchester United teammates being established at the Stadium of Light met with an intriguing response.
“I’ve spoken to Diego [For-lán], but I speak to players all the time,” he said. “I spoke to Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] last week, but I don’t think he’s coming here. I’ve spoken to Ryan Giggs and met Nicky Butt near where I live, but I don’t think that means they’re going to be here. I’ve spoken to Ruud [van Nistelrooy] and as much as I’d love to have all of those players, it doesn’t mean they’ll be coming.”
