Keane confirmed as Sunderland manager
Black Cats move off bottom in front of new boss
Kanu stars as Pompey sink Boro
—– After days of speculation, football’s worst kept secret is confirmed as Roy Keane becomes the new manager of Sunderland.
Following relegation, the Black Cats have suffered a woeful start to the season with new chairman Niall Quinn stepping in as temporary manager and seeing his side sink to the bottom of the Championship without a point from their first four games, and knocked out of the Carling Cup at League Two Bury.
The Keane factor seems to have an immediate effect as, with him looking on from the Stadium of Light stands, Sunderland move off the bottom with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win against promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion.
The ex-Manchester United star signs a three-year contract shortly after the game with Quinn, his former Republic of Ireland colleague, looking forward to a successful partnership: “Roy Keane’s standards of professionalism are legendary and his desire and determination to succeed are precisely what this club requires.
“Let’s all support and enjoy one of football’s true greats as he embarks on what we all hope will be a fantastic new chapter in Sunderland Football Club’s rich and proud history.”
Brian Kidd has been tipped to be his assistant but Keane’s first decision is to name 36 year-old Tony Loughlan - a former Nottingham Forest team mate and Leicester City academy coach - as head coach.
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—– Less than a week after beating champions Chelsea, Middlesbrough sink to a 0-4 home defeat by Portsmouth - Pompey’s biggest-ever away win in the Premiership.
Nwankwo Kanu - a free transfer summer recruit from West Bromwich Albion - is the star of the show with two goals to take him to four in the season already.
Pompey move up to second in the table and are the only Premiership team yet to concede a goal.
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