Roy Keane has once again sparked his bitter war of words with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, accusing the Manchester United icon of only ever thinking of himself.

Keane and Ferguson have not seen eye-to-eye for many years, following the Irishman's bitter exit from Old Trafford.

As his Red Devils career drew to a close, Keane accused Ferguson of deserting him at the time he needed him most, and has now taken a swipe at the famed man-management techniques of the Scotsman.

Roy Keane has once again reignited his war of words with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson

The relationship of the pair has remained frosty for several years with bitter words exchanged

He also insinuated that he was not the only one abandoned by the manager, who has since had a stand named after him at Old Trafford, pointing to the treatment of two other captains in the form of Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce.

'I wouldn’t forgive Ferguson. The media spin, how I apparently upset everybody, it was all nonsense,’ Keane said to Off The Ball this week.

‘I don’t care if it’s Alex Ferguson or the Pope, you’re going to defend yourself.

'I think when he apologises I will probably say hello to him, yeah. [But] I've no interest in speaking to the man.

'People talk about Ferguson’s man-management. Don't be kidded by all that.

'I was at the club when Bryan Robson left, when Steve Bruce left, two brilliant servants for Manchester United, and I didn't like the way they were treated.'

Keane has also criticised Ferguson's treatment of ex-captains Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson

Bruce was denied the chance to leave United in 1995 to pursue management offers but was continuously blocked by Ferguson, who wanted him as part of his squad, before leaving him out the team for the 1996 FA Cup final.

Robson had seen his No 7 shirt handed to Eric Cantona is his final season at Old Trafford, before he too was ommitted from an FA Cup final squad - despiting netting in the semi-final replay victory in 1994.

Keane has also laid into the close relationship other members of Ferguson's family were allowed with the club.

His son Darren picked up a Premier League winner's medal in 1993 after making 15 appearances under his father, before a career that saw him roam between the lower division in England and Europe.

And Keane suggests that the chance to break into the Premier League would not have been afforded to him under any other boss.

'People said [Ferguson] always had the best interests of Manchester United at heart. Darren Ferguson [his son] won a medal. He was very lucky.

'[Alex Ferguson's] brother was the chief scout for Manchester United for a long time.

Keane has suggested that Darren Ferguson was 'very lucky' to pick up a league winner's medal

'I'm surprised his wife wasn't involved in the staff somewhere.

'Darren was [the manager] at Preston North End and lost his job. He had a couple of young players on loan from Manchester United, [but] guess what happens the next day?

'They're pulled out of Preston. Is that doing the best for Manchester United? Do me a favour.'

The latest revelations all follow the same theme of Keane's complaints since leaving United in 2005.

Keane had historically told the Sunday Times that Ferguson, who was renowned for the way his dealt with his players, simply abandoned him at the end.

'People say he stood by me in difficult times, but not when I was 34, not when I was coming towards the end. All of a sudden it was, “Off you go, Roy”,' Keane claimed.

‘People say Ferguson always does what is right for Man United. I don’t think he does. I think he does what is right for him.’



Keane feels Ferguson abandoned him at the end of his United career and pushed him out

Meanwhile, Keane has launched a withering attack on a string of Republic of Ireland internationals, questioning the ability of players who previously questioned him.

Keane was Martin O'Neill's assistant manager with the national team for five years between 2013 and 2018, and had a series of run-ins along the way.

Speaking this week during an on-stage conversation with Off The Ball, Keane has given his verdict on some of the players who slipped down the pecking order.

Roy Keane has launched a withering attack on Jon Walters and other Ireland stars

Feeling the full brunt of Keane's frank opinions were Jon Walters, Harry Arter and Stephen Ward.

'Jon does a lot of talking, it's amazing,' said Keane.

'Harry Arter, he went to Cardiff on loan, got relegated. Wardy can't get in the Stoke team, at the moment, bottom of the league.

'[He was] On TV, crying about his family situation. You know, how about lying low for a while, taking it easy. Have a look at his medals? Wouldn't take long,' said the former Manchester United man.

'Ironically two or three years ago when his career was coming to the end, he went on loan, he went to Ipswich on loan. I was laughing my head off.

'When we were beaten by Wales, he [Walters] didn’t have a good game. Wardy played, didn’t have a good game. They need to go back and watch how bad they were.'