PHOTOS of Roy Keane book launch LIVE: Former Manchester United captain releases controversial autobiography

Forgive Fergie?

'Good question. I'm not sure. Football is a small world and you cross paths.
'Will I bump in to him? Probably. It's when people start to come out with nonsense….not just myself but other players.
'Fergie made millions of pounds, his statue, a stand named after him…. To criticise people who gave him myself is ridiculous.
'Would I forgive him? Lets see if we cross paths. I'm sure we will. Cross paths it is.'

Is it unfair to present the book as criticism? Read more>>>>>......<<<<<<<<<,

'It's grabbed headlines but the book is fair reflection of things with other players and managers. I have been harsh on myself. The book was not written for people to like. It's there for people to read.
'If people like it that’s fine and if they don’t that’s fine. It's not just about falling out with people. I didn’t fall out with that many people over my career. I had a great career. Some great times.'

Ian Ladyman in Dublin: Get a move on, Roy!

In his book Keane writes: “If training starts at 10.30am and you turn up at 10.20am then in my eyes you are late.” Well, this was billed as a 3pm press conference and, er, he’s not here….

MATT LAWTON: The Roy Keane I knew was a decent man

One final plug for Matt Lawton's fascinating, insightful piece on Roy Keane.
As his former ghost writer for a column, Lawton caught a glimpse of his personality.
And he's not all bad, I promise!

It's nearly that time! Ian Ladyman updates us from Dublin

Hello from the Aviva Stadium. The man with the beard is here. He is pitch side at the moment having his photo taken. I would be surprised if he is smiling much. But then, these days, how would you even be able to tell? Live press conference updates coming up.

'I rang Mark Hughes. Robbie [Savage] wasn’t in the Blackburn team and I asked Mark if we could try to arrange a deal.

'Sparky said, "Yeah, yeah he's lost his way here but he could still do a job for you."

'Robbie's legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us [at Sunderland] with his long hair, and give us a lift – the way Yorkie [Dwight Yorke] had, a big personality in the dressing room.

'Sparky gave me permission to give him a call. So I got Robbie's mobile number and rang him.

'It went to his voicemail, "Hi it’s Robbie – whazzup!" like the Budweiser ad.

'I never called him back. I thought: "I can’t be f***ing signing that.”’
Fair enough!

He didn't sign Robbie Savage after hearing his answer message... "WHAZZZZUP"

I worked under two great managers and I put Brian Clough ahead of Alex Ferguson for a simple reason. What was the most important thing in my football career? Brian Clough signing me. That kick started everything,' he writes. 

'Different managers, both brilliant. I think Clough’s warmth was genuine. I think with Sir Alex Ferguson it was pure business – everything is business. If he was being nice I would think: ‘This is business, this’.

'He was driven and ruthless. That lack of warmth was his strength. United was a much bigger club than Forest but his coldness made him successful.

Keane (right) in his Nottingham Forest with captain Stuart Pearce (centre) and manager Clough

Clough was a better boss than Fergie... United boss was all business

'I worked under two great managers and I put Brian Clough ahead of Alex Ferguson for a simple reason. What was the most important thing in my football career? Brian Clough signing me. That kick started everything,' he writes. 

'Different managers, both brilliant. I think Clough’s warmth was genuine. I think with Sir Alex Ferguson it was pure business – everything is business. If he was being nice I would think: ‘This is business, this’.

'He was driven and ruthless. That lack of warmth was his strength. United was a much bigger club than Forest but his coldness made him successful.

Keane (right) in his Nottingham Forest with captain Stuart Pearce (centre) and manager Clough

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14:32

Keane admits 'evil thought' of being 'glad' Clive Clarke suffered heart attack

Roy Keane made the shocking revelation that he had an 'evil thought' because he felt 'glad' Clive Clarke's heart attack happened on the same night as Sunderland were knocked out the League Cup by Luton Town.

He writes: 'I had the evil thought: "I'm glad he had it tonight" because it would deflect our woeful performance.'

Keane also concedes that, having once joked that he was surprised ‘they’d found a heart’, he ‘sometimes forgot’ he ‘wasn’t the only person with parents and children’.

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14:28

BOOK LAUNCH UPDATE: We're still awaiting the bearded one...

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14:25

While we're on that MUTV interview... Keane says it's no big deal!

Keane’s words were considered so volatile that the programme was never shown and the Old Trafford captain was fined £5000. Keane criticised team-mates, but he says none of them had a problem - only the two in management.

'It was getting a bit silly so I got the players together in the dressing room and told them it was f*****g nonsense,” he writes.

'They were all going: ‘Yeah, Yeah’. Not one of them had an issue. Not one.

'Even now people still say: "The video had to be destroyed". Like it was a nuclear weapon or something.'

Keane: No issue with his team-mates after MUTV intervi

Keane told Sir Alex Ferguson 'we need f****** more from you' in furious row

No wonder he ended up leaving United! Keane says Carlos Queiroz accused him of showing a lack of loyalty after a controversial MUTV interview - before Fergie stepped in, saying: 'That’s enough. I’ve had enough of all this stuff.'

Keane responded: 'You as well gaffer. We need f****** more from you. We need a bit more, gaffer. We're slipping behind other teams.'

When Van der Sar chipped in and suggested Keane could have used a 'different tone' the reply was robust. 

'Edwin, why don’t you shut the f*** up? You’ve been at this club for two minutes and you’ve done more interviews than I’ve done in my 12 years. It was MUTV – I had to do it.' 

Happier times... Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane tog

Starting off strong: Keane admits he HEADBUTTED Peter Schmeichel on tour

'I had a bust-up with Peter when we were on a pre-season tour of Asia, in 1998 (actually in 1997), just after I came back from my cruciate injury. I think we were in Hong Kong. There was drink involved,' wrote Keane in an extract serialised in the Daily Mirror.

Keane revealed he often didn't see eye-to-eye with the former United keeper over his on-field conduct, with Schmeichel famed for shouting at his defenders.

Keane continued by describing the morning afterwards: 'The manager had a go at us as we were getting on the bus, and people were going on about a fight in the hotel the night before. It started coming back to me - the fight between me and Peter.

Before we get going, here's the Republic of Ireland assistant in training today

The time has come...

We've heard the stories, we've read about his misdemeanours. But now is the time to hear from the man himself.
Roy Keane's autobiography The Second Half is launching today at 3pm - I wonder what else we'll find out about the former Manchester United captain...
Stay with us until then with a recap of all the stories so far, and all the build-up to the main event.

Roy Keane is to launch his outspoken autobiography on Thursday at 3pm. Join Sportsmail for all updates from the conference, with IAN LADYMAN.

Excerpts from the book have uncovered some magnificent tales, including the feud with Sir Alex Ferguson, his Manchester United exit and his views on the Class of '92.

We have yet to hear from the man himself though, so stay tuned for all the latest quotes from The Second Half.