Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has admitted he was 'ecstatic' when it became clear there was no way back for skipper Roy Keane into the World Cup finals after the bust-up between the two men during the team's preparations in Saipan which led to the Manchester United skipper storming off home.
McCarthy says he was terrified Keane would apologise and he would be forced to bring him back into the squad. The revelations come in the manager's World Cup diary currently being serialised in the Ireland on Sunday newspaper.
The book will be published after the Republic's European Championship qualifier against Switzerland in Dublin on Wednesday.
Referring to that fateful Sunday, May 26, the Irish boss said: "I feared an apology. Instead he (Keane) is finally out of the World Cup and wishes the management the best of luck without him. I am ecstatic."
"It has taken Keane eight full days to finally do what he tried to do in Saipan last Tuesday night and quit the World Cup, international football and the green jersey," he writes.
"He has tortured and tormented so many of us in the days and nights since then, perhaps even himself. He has walked away from the players he captained and still is a hero in some people's eyes."
At the time rumours abounded that a plane was on stand-by to fly Keane back from Manchester to Japan.
McCarthy writes that several members of the team would also have left the squad had Keane been allowed to return. In the diary the Irish boss says: "The players are furious that the FAI would even consider a return for Roy Keane after everything he said and did.
"Several of them are adamant that they will go home if Keane is imposed on us."
McCarthy also says: "I never want to see him again, never mind work with him. He is starting to ruin my World Cup and I won't have it...the players won't have him back. They are happy without him."
But in the final chapters of his diary referring to events three months after the World Cup finals, the Irish boss appears to have second thoughts on his relationship with Manchester United skipper Keane.
"I am not someone who likes to hold grudges and bear malice. Despite everything that has been said , despite all the hurtful comments thrown at me, I would still talk to Keane if he rings me.
"But from what Keane has said, it seems clear he sees no chance of reconciliation between us. It is obvious to me now that he hates me with a vengeance. But that doesn't bother me in the slightest.
"I actually feel sorry that he could carry that sort of anger against me around with him for such a long time.
"Part of me says there is no way back for him, that I could never work with him again after the things he said to me. But I am not a vindictive person. Only one man denied his country his services at the finals. Only one man can end all this.
"The national team is bigger than Roy Keane or Mick McCarthy and I know that better than anyone. All I am interested in now is the future and moving on. We have a European Championship to qualify for and I hope to see all the |Irish fans in Portugal in 2004," added McCarthy.