Keane prepared to walk out on Ireland

Roy Keane is threatening to quit the Republic of Ireland World Cup squad after a row with Mick McCarthy's backroom staff. The Irish captain turned on goalkeeping coach Pat Bonner after a five-a-side game and then argued with coach Ian Evans.

Keane was unhappy that Bonner was working with the squad's goalkeepers and outfield players had to go in goal in the training session. It seemed a minor point, but tempers frayed.

McCarthy was upset that his skipper took out his temper on the staff and told him so in typically blunt fashion. Keane then went to his room and the Manchester United captain is now talking about catching a flight home today as efforts to cool him down failed.

Keane has been known to lose his cool before if preparations are not right. He turned on the Irish football association over their travel arrangement in qualifying matches and got his way.

But the argument with the Irish manager and his staff is far more serious and some form of climbdown will be need or the stubborn Keane will be on his way back today – in anger and disgrace.

It is the last thing the Republic camp need as their hopes are high, but their captain and the coaching team are now at loggerheads and no one knows how to solve the problem.

* The Premier League have backed the Football League's fight against the proposal by Fifa to impose domestic transfer windows. A meeting of Premier League chairmen yesterday came out in favour of the Football Association mounting a "full and vigorous campaign to bring all their influence to bear on football's world governing body before the start of next season".