'Tactic boards getting smashed' - Ex-Sunderland star opens up on Roy Keane relationship and reveals 'hairdryer' experience

Former Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has given an insight into his relationship with Roy Keane and revealed what it was like to receive the hairdryer treatment from the Manchester United legend.

Bardsley was a club team-mate of the former Republic of Ireland international during the early days of his career at Manchester United before the duo were reunited at the Stadium of Light when Keane made the full-back his third addition of the January transfer window in early 2008.

Bardsley helped Sunderland preserve their top flight status with a fifteenth place finish at the end of their first season back in the Premier League and that was followed by another successful battle against relegation during the following campaign. However, Keane’s reign at the Stadium of Light came to an end in December 2008 when he resigned in the wake of a 4-1 home defeat against Bolton Wanderers that left his side sitting in the Premier League drop zone.

There were a number of highs during the reign on Wearside with a stunning Championship title win and a historic Wear-Tyne derby win against Newcastle just two months before his departure. Keane’s temperament was also a talking point throughout his playing and managerial career - but Bardsley believes he always had ‘a really good relationship’ with his former team-mate and manager.

‘A lot of tactics boards getting smashed’

Speaking on Call Yourself a Fan, sponsored by Coral, the former Black Cats defender said: “Occasionally [he lost it at the lads] as managers do when you’re not performing, but I had a really good relationship with him, playing with him at United and then going into management at Sunderland. We had a bit of success at the beginning, but it was difficult when finances come into play, and we didn’t have the capabilities to match with the better teams. But all round we had a professional relationship, although I took a couple of hairdryers along the way, that’s for sure!”

When asked how a dressing down from Keane could look, Bardsley said: “A lot of screaming in your face, a lot of shouting, and a lot of tactic boards getting smashed. The usual stuff when things are not going right!”

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