Getting rid of Keane was so tough, says Fergie

As Roy Kean takes his newly promoted Sunderland to Old Tafford Saturday, Sir Alex Ferguson, seen here 12 August 2007, insists calling time on Keane's Manchester United playing career was a tough task.

Sir Alex Ferguson insists calling time on Roy Keane's Manchester United playing career was a tough task.

Keane takes his newly promoted Sunderland side to Old Trafford on Saturday for his first visit to his former club since moving into management.

United manager Ferguson has been generous in his praise of the job his former captain has done since taking charge at the Stadium of Light and steering the club to promotion in his first season.

But he admits the decision to release Keane from his playing contract in December 2005, after a clash over the Irish midfielder's public criticism of several United players, was a painful move to make.

"It's happened to me so many times here, with players coming to the end of their careers," said the United manager.

"It's a difficult time because you get attached to them, they're almost family and when you see that moment they have to leave it's not easy, because they've been great servants for you.

"The only thing that assisted me was that I'd had to do it a few times before, but it's never easy."

Ferguson insists relations between the pair are now fine and is convinced his ex-player - who spent 12 years working alongside the Scot - will make a success of his new role and is more than capable of handling the expectations of Sunderland's demanding support.

As Roy Kean, seen here at a testimonial match in 2006, takes his newly promoted Sunderland to Old Tafford Saturday, Sir Alex Ferguson insists calling time on Keane's Manchester United playing career was a tough task.

"We keep in touch, not regular, but from time to time" Ferguson added. "I wasn't surprised at how well he did last year.

"I think it was a surprise they won the league, but I thought he would get them into the play-offs. Sunderland are one of those clubs with a long history of disappointment for their fans, because the expectation never changes for them.

"When they won that league, I bet they thought they were going to go on and win the Premier League. That's what they're like.

"But Roy can handle the pressure there. What Sunderland have is a fantastic base, fantastic support. But if you look at their history over the last 40 to 50 years, it's been disappointing. You have to say that.

"He'll get a great reception. It tells you what a great club we are that when we have players who come back to play or manage against us, they get a fantastic reception."

Wayne Rooney will be absent for Keane's return, but Ferguson hinted the England striker could be back quicker than expected from his broken foot.

Rooney was told he would be out for eight weeks after suffering the injury against Reading on the first day of the season, but he is making a quick recovery.

"Wayne's still got a bit to do yet, but he's not far away," Ferguson said.

As Roy Kean, seen here 18 August 2007, takes his newly promoted Sunderland to Old Tafford Saturday, Sir Alex Ferguson insists calling time on Keane's Manchester United playing career was a tough task.

"He's been working really hard in the gym and he won't have a lot to pick up when he comes back, in terms of his fitness because he had a really good pre-season.

"He's going for a scan at the end of next week and hopefully that will give us a good result."

Ferguson has demanded action before Manchester United's Champions League clash in Rome on December 12th to ensure there is no repeat of the violent scenes that marred the club's visit there last season.

The English champions will again face AS Roma in the Olympic Stadium and the manager warned lessons must be learned to prevent a more dangerous situation emerging.

"What disturbed us at the times, when we watched the video footage, was that all the police were in the Manchester United section," Ferguson said.

"There were no police in the Roma fans' section, so they were therefore free to hurl all sorts of objects at our fans.

"There was some story that the Rome police were scared to get among their fans. Well, I find that quite incredulous. I think they should be keeping control of both sets of fans.

"Hopefully lessons have been learned about what happened last time, because someone could have been killed.

"In fact, when you saw some of the scenes, it was amazing no one was killed."