Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

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 against the Black Cats.

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.

“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.’

“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."

Keane's autobiography 'The Second Half' goes on sale tomorrow.