Keane said: “I have enormous sympathy for players because once again a lot are getting criticised.
“I wouldn’t take a pay-cut from anybody if I was at one of the bigger clubs.
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“I know there is pressure on players but it is nobody’s business what you do with your wages. You take your wages and if you want to be generous, go ahead and do it.
“But I don’t feel players should feel under pressure from clubs, especially bigger clubs, to take a pay-cut.
“They have signed a contract and we know everyone is different with different perks and details.
“But your contract with the club is a personal matter and this idea all the players have to take a pay-cut and all the players have to do this and that, is nonsense.
“I think it is up to the individual and if they want to stick to their guns and say ‘I’m sticking with my full wages, while we have a
billionaire in the background’ then do it. Don’t be swayed by some sort of pressure in the media.
“I am really surprised at the amount of people jumping on the bandwagon with the criticism of players. It’s nobody else’s business.
“And I am talking about the top clubs with the really wealthy owners.”
Keane, who also played for Nottingham Forest and Celtic, told Sky’s Football Show: “When I was at Manchester United we had different personalities but we were able to make our own choices.
“And what you will find is some of the players taking their full wages might be the most generous people on the planet.
“Just because they’re not putting it on social media it doesn’t mean to say they are not doing their own bit for the NHS or what charity they want to.”
Keane, who also managed Sunderland and Ipswich, believes some wealthy owners are trying to pull the wool over the public’s eyes by pleading poverty during the crisis.
He said: “Whenever I was negotiating contracts the clubs always made it pretty clear to me it was a business. I signed a contract and I expected clubs to honour that contract.
“I know circumstances have changed and I am talking about clubs who have money available.
“At Nottingham Forest I was on the same money for two-and-a-half years. I eventually got a pay-rise and was told I was greedy.
“I went to Manchester United and they told me they could not match Blackburn Rovers for wages, can you believe that a club like
Manchester United?
“When I signed a new deal at United they sent out a letter to supporters saying the season tickets had gone up in price because of
my contract.
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“The day I left the club I sat in front of manager Alex Ferguson and chief exec David Gill, who discussed cash-flow problems. Brilliant!
“So that’s the business-side of it and when clubs come to players now – and I mean the big clubs with wealthy owners saying ‘We’re in big trouble.’
“No, no, no. You honour that contract.
“And if certain players want to give up their wages, good luck to them – that’s up to the individual.
“But this idea players should be giving up their wages with the big clubs, forget about it. These clubs are first to tell you, this is a
business lads, this is how it works.
“These owners are billionaires. They are ruthless, they are shrewd people.
“They come to the players moaning about cash-flow problems, I have
heard it all before.
“Take no notice of it.”
Keane recently left Sky Sports presenter David Jones speechless and fellow pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville in stitches – when asked about his new lockdown beard in a video call.
The former Irish hardman also revealed that he did not get Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand’s banter at Old Trafford– and did not miss them after he left the Red Devils.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
