McCarthy 'ecstatic' after Keane walked out

Mick McCarthy, the Republic of Ireland manager, has admitted he was "ecstatic" when it became clear there was no way back for the captain Roy Keane into this summer's World Cup finals after the bust-up between the two men during the team's preparations in Saipan which led to the Manchester United skipper storming off home. McCarthy said he was terrified that Keane would apologise and he would be forced to bring him back into the squad.

The revelations come in the manager's World Cup diary currently being serialised in the Ireland on Sunday newspaper. The book will be published after the Republic's European Championship qualifier against Switzerland in Dublin on Wednesday.

Referring to that fateful Sunday, 26 May, McCarthy said: "I feared an apology. Instead he [Keane] is finally out of the World Cup and wishes the management the best of luck without him. I am ecstatic.

"It has taken Keane eight full days to finally do what he tried to do in Saipan last Tuesday night and quit the World Cup, international football and the green jersey," he wrote. "He has tortured and tormented so many of us in the days and nights since then, perhaps even himself. He has walked away from the players he captained and still is a hero in some people's eyes."

At the time rumours abounded that that a plane was on stand-by to fly Keane back from Manchester to Japan. McCarthy wrote that several members of the team would also have left the squad had Keane been allowed to return. In the diary McCarthy said: "The players are furious that the FAI [Football Association of Ireland] would even consider a return for Roy Keane after everything he said and did. Several of them are adamant that they will go home if Keane is imposed on us." McCarthy also said: "I never want to see him again, never mind work with him. He is starting to ruin my World Cup and I won't have it . . . the players won't have him back. They are happy without him."

McCarthy has admitted for the first time that the steady drip of criticism from some sections of the media and the public is unsettling him. "The gloss has been taken off the job and the enjoyment that has been there since I became manager has been tainted," he said.

Although he was not approached for the managerial vacancy at Sunderland, there is a growing feeling in Ireland that McCarthy, who is the longest-serving international coach in Europe after more than six years, will be keen to take the next opportunity to join a Premiership club.

A poll in yesterday's Sunday Independent in Dublin asking "Who do you feel the Irish soccer team needs most, Mick McCarthy or Roy Keane?" found only a narrow majority in favour of McCarthy, by 44 per cent to 41. Keane was ahead with men and with the young.

After a 4-2 defeat by Russia in their opening European Championship tie last month, McCarthy and his team need an emphatic win from Wednesday's home game with Switzerland at Lansdowne Road. The Swiss top the Group Ten table after drawing 1-1 on Saturday away to Albania, while Russia's match in Georgia was abandoned at half-time because of floodlight failure and must now be replayed in November.

Newcastle United's Andy O'Brien has become the second defender to drop out of the Irish squad. He has aggravated a hamstring injury. Birmingham City's Jeff Kenna had to withdraw last week after being picked for the first time in three years, and two other right-backs, Stephen Carr and Steve Finnan, are also unavailable.