Linfield seeks legal advice over Keane claims

Linfield are seeking legal advice following comments made about the club by Roy Keane in his controversial autobiography.

Keane alleged in the book the Irish League Football club did not sign a Catholic player until 1993 and branded its supporters as "bigots".

Linfield chairman Billy McCoubrey is furious with the allegations, which he describes as "outrageaous and unfounded.

"Some of our most respected players going back as far as the 1940s and 1950s were Catholics," McCoubrey told the BBC website.

"I could name you Bob Bryson, Mickey McWilliams, Harry Walsh, Davy Walsh, Tommy Breen and many more. In more recent times, we have signed many Catholics so I don't know where all this misinformation is coming from," he said.

Keane had referred to the African player Tony Coly who was a Catholic and according to the Manchester United skipper was the target of abuse from the Linfield supporters.

"The player, who was also black - another major problem for Linfield's bigoted supporters didn't last long (nor did the manager [Roy Coyle] who signed him)," said Keane.

McCoubrey said Coly had been "an idol" at the club and signed in 1988, rather than 1993, and that the manager left of his own accord after a long time at the club.