Sunderland boss Roy Keane has admitted the pressures of Coca-Cola
Championship management can be even greater than life in the top
flight. The 35-year-old Irishman takes his side to Crystal Palace
on Friday night sitting 11th in the table and just four points off
the play-off places.
However, he is quickly having to come to terms with the demands of
his job and the hunger for an immediate return to the Barclays
Premiership. Keane said: "The Championship is a tough league. It is
a bit of a rat race. Everybody is beating each other.
"We all want to be back in the Premiership, there is no doubt about
that. That is the place to be. "You look at the managerial
casualties this year, especially in the Championship, and sometimes
there is even more pressure on a manager in the Championship than
in the Premier League because everyone just wants to get back into
that Premiership for whatever reason.
Keane admits he has made mistakes since accepting chairman Niall
Quinn's invitation to launch his managerial career at the Stadium
of Light back in August. However, a man who gleaned all he could
from Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson during his glittering
playing career is avidly pursuing his education with his passion
for success undimmed.
He explained: "You learn every day, you learn every day about each
other. "It is brilliant that there is a togetherness. We are all in
it together. "There are going to be ups and downs, there are going
to be disagreements, but I like that. I like people to say how they
feel and to show their feelings. "I have made a lot of mistakes so
far as a manager, but you have got to learn quickly, especially in
the Championship, because too many mistakes and you are out of a
job."
The Black Cats head for London on the back of a seven-game unbeaten
run. And he knows from his Manchester United days in particular
that that kind of commitment can help in the fight for a shot at
promotion in the second half of the season.
Keane said: "If you have not got that in your dressing room, you
have got no chance. "It will probably make all the difference. That
was one of the things I wanted to build among the players, among
the staff to connect with the supporters. "There is a togetherness
there. We know we are far from the finished article, but we have
given ourselves a chance.
"We keep going to the end and if we can add one or two players to
help us, that will be fantastic and hopefully we can have a good
second half of the season."
Keane revealed he has already sat down with Quinn to discuss how
they will attempt to bolster the squad during the transfer window.
He said: "We have spoken about a few of the players we are hoping
to get in, but it is going to be difficult, I have to say."
Actually he is doing quite ok for a new manager... When he took
over they were 24th place now 11 already... If they had a better
start, they would be in the light green area... 
