Roy Keane spills the beans on his furious bust-up at Reading

[Royal Tezza]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/roy-keane-spills-beans-furious-7908251

Roy Keane has revealed he once had a furious bust-up at Reading FC during his time managing Sunderland in the Premier League.

The fiery former Manchester United skipper says the flash point, which came after his side were beaten 2-1 at Madejski Stadium in December 2007, was the only time he lost his temper as a boss.

In his new autobiography, 'The Second Half' Keane describes in detail how he clashed with Kevin Dillon, Steve Coppell's assistant manager, and director of football Nick Hammond.

The flash point came after a game which saw Stephen Hunt score a controversial late winner which left Sunderland fuming.

Keane recounts: “The game at Reading, just before Christmas, was the only time I really lost my temper as a manager. I’d lost my temper before – but I’d used my temper.

"This time I used physical force. I grabbed a staff member, put his head on a table, and tried to pull his tie off. But he was a Reading staff member, not one of ours.

“It was the first half, a tight game. Maybe the pressure was building on me – I don’t know.

"Steve Coppell was managing Reading, and he had a couple of lads working with him, Wally Downes and Kevin Dillon. I looked across at their dugout, and Kevin Dillon was looking back across, calling me a w*****r.


Former Reading assistant manager Kevin Dillon.

“I go ‘What - me?’

“He goes, ‘Yeah, yeah. You’re always on at the f*****g referee.

“I said nothing back. I never got involved with opposition managers or staff – never.”

After the game, tempers flared up once again with Sunderland feeling aggrieved to have been left empty-handed.

Keane added: “We were robbed – again – in injury time. Stephen Hunt got a shot in, and the linesman on the far side reckoned it was over the line. It wasn’t, but the goal was given.

“At the end of the game, walking down the stairs, I saw Wally Downes shaking all my players’ hands.

“‘Unlucky lads’.

“You generally don’t see staff shaking the other team’s hands. I said nothing. It had been a big win for Reading and there was a lot of celebrating. I went into our dressing room. I wasn’t annoyed with the players, more the decision. I spoke to the players and staff.

“The players were getting themselves organised, and I was waiting for my staff to go in for a drink with Steve Coppell and the Reading lads. I didn’t want to but I kept thinking ‘We’re Sunderland – we’ll do things properly.’

“The staff were taking ages, so I said ‘I’ll go on lads. Follow me in.’


Reading FC's director of football Nick Hammond.

“I walked into Steve’s office. Wally Downes was there and their director of football, Nick Hammond. Kevin Dillon was sitting down.

“I go ‘Well done lads, well done.’”

This was when things turned nasty.

Keane recalled: “As I was talking to Wally, Kevin Dillon stood up and goes, ‘Don’t you come in here and –’

“I grabbed him, got his head on the table, pulled his tie up.

“‘I’m f*****g warning you –’

“Nick Hammond grabbed me. ‘What are you doing?!’

“‘You f******g –’

“‘Get out of our office!’

“I went ‘F*** yis anyway."

Comical stuff - why didn't he go for Wally I wonder...

I also wonder if this is anything to do with any players we sold Sunderland under Keane?

[No Fixed Abode]

Not so sure on Roy Keane after reading some of his book, especially the bit talking about Gary Neville's button mushroom cock and Nicky Butts big todger. It's all a bit gay.

[Sutekh]

"This time I used physical force. I grabbed a staff member, put his head on a table, and tried to pull his tie off. But he was a Reading staff member, not one of ours"

So does that mean it'd have been OK if it was a Sunderland staff member?

[Royal Tezza]

Not so sure on Roy Keane after reading some of his book, especially the bit talking about Gary Neville's button mushroom cock and Nicky Butts big todger. It's all a bit gay.

Is this actually in the book? I asumed someone just put it on Twitter.

[ZacNaloen]

Rumour at the time was that this bust up was about Greg Halford not the result.

[Pepe the Horseman]

"This time I used physical force. I grabbed a staff member, put his head on a table, and tried to pull his tie off. But he was a Reading staff member, not one of ours"

So does that mean it'd have been OK if it was a Sunderland staff member?

Sunderland staff members wear clip on ties.

[Ouroboros]

Rumour at the time was that this bust up was about Greg Halford not the result.

'Zaktly.

Does Keane not mention that in his book?

[tidus_mi2]

I would love to hear Kevin Dillon's version of events.

[ZacNaloen]

No mention that I've seen

[Vision]

So basically he's saying he got thrown out by Nicky "The Rock" Hammond.

[Ouroboros]

No mention that I've seen

Strange, give his obvious cultivation of the image of a man unafraid to say it straight.





That's right Keano, I'm calling you out.

[Ouroboros]

Bitch.

[RG30]

Rumour at the time was that this bust up was about Greg Halford not the result.

'Zaktly.

Does Keane not mention that in his book?

[floyd__streete]

LOL @ Keene thinking he's doing a warts-and-all because he's such a MAN and not including the real reasons why the bust up happened.

He's a mouse masquerading as a lion and to use his line to Mick McCarthy "a terrible human being".

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'm gonna act the white knight here. How do we know that Keane isn't telling the truth, and the Halford thing was just a myth?

[Royal Biscuitman]

I would love to hear Kevin Dillon's version of events.

I'd like to hear Wally Downe's version of events.... he's on twitter, I might ask him

[Albert Spangler]

So basically he's saying he got thrown out by Nicky "The Rock" Hammond.

This was the bit I picked up on.

Less Happy Rabbit and more that rabbit off of Monty Python.

[Cape Town Royal]

I guess the good news from this story is I guess it means we will never have to have him as our Manager..

Now praying for Villa away in the cup and shirts and ties all round for the away game!!!!

[El Diablo]

I dont recall Dillon wearing a tie on match days.....

[Royal Tezza]

Sunnerlan fans seem to have also picked up on the rumoured version of events...

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/roy-keane-attacked-kevin-dillon.976521/