Sunderland and Keane part company

Sunderland have confirmed they have parted company with Roy Keane with the players understood to have been informed of their manager's departure at a morning meeting.

There have been intense discussions behind the scenes between Keane, the club chairman, Niall Quinn, and other advisers over the past three days. With talks curtailed last night with Keane's future unresolved this morning a decision to part ways was reached.

Keane admitted he was starting to doubt his suitability for the post following Saturday's 4-1 home thumping by Bolton.

Who's next for the Stadium of Light

Who will succeed Roy Keane as manager of Sunderland?

Your answer

Sam Allardyce Alan Curbishley Steve McClaren Aidy Boothroyd David O'Leary Terry Venables Gordon Strachan Gerrard Houllier Peter Reid Niall Quinn Steve Bruce Martin Jol Mick McCarthy Steve Coppell

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Who will succeed Roy Keane as manager of Sunderland?

Sam Allardyce	43%
Alan Curbishley	8%
Steve McClaren	3%
Aidy Boothroyd	4%
David O'Leary	8%
Terry Venables	1%
Gordon Strachan	6%
Gerrard Houllier	3%
Peter Reid	4%
Niall Quinn	3%
Steve Bruce	1%
Martin Jol	7%
Mick McCarthy	4%
Steve Coppell	6%

He said in the post-match press conference: "I ask myself every single day if I am the right man for Sunderland. I asked myself this morning and I said that I was. Tomorrow morning if the answer's no we will have to look at it.

"I have to be honest in my assessment. It's not about what's best for Roy Keane. It's Sunderland Football Club. I might wake up on Monday morning and think I'm the right man. On Tuesday it might be different."

His contract was due to expire at the end of the season with talks over a new deal reportedly ongoing.

There has been rising criticism lately of Keane's team selection. Doubt surrounding the Irishman over the past seven days has affected the dressing room and has created some more doubt in the most important relationship at any football club – between the manager and his players.

What will Roy Keane be doing at the start of the 2009/10 Premier League season

Keane, 37, was appointed manager at the Stadium of Light in August 2006 and has been given unprecedented financial backing by the club's board.

He led Sunderland into the Premier League in his first season in charge while his debut year in the Premier League resulted in a 15th-placed finish.

Keane then embarked on another summer of heavy spending with the likes of Djibril Cisse, Anton Ferdinand, El-Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque arriving on Wearside.

But the new additions have failed to gel and he leaves with the club in 18th position.

First-team coach Ricky Sbragia will take over team affairs on an interim basis, assisted by reserve-team coach Neil Bailey and senior player Dwight Yorke.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said: "First of all on behalf of everyone here I would like to pay thanks to Roy Keane for all his hard work in progressing this club, lifting its status and growing its worldwide profile.

"Roy deserves huge respect for his contribution and the manner in which he guided the club from the depths of the Championship back to the Premier League. His winning mentality and single-mindedness were just what this club needed when Drumaville took over shortly before his arrival.

"Roy's decision to stand aside and allow someone else to take charge of the next chapter sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club. Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself.

"The board has reluctantly accepted his decision and wish him and his family well for the future."

Keane added: "I would like to thank my staff, players, Niall Quinn and in particular the fans for their support during my time at Sunderland, and I would like to wish the club every success in the future."