Former Ipswich Town fans’ favourite Pablo Counago has branded Roy Keane ‘a coward’ – the Spaniard hitting back at his former Blues boss after he was one of several players to be criticised in the controversial Irishman’s new autobiography.

East Anglian Daily Times: Roy KeaneRoy Keane (Image: Archant)

Keane says that Spanish striker Counago was ‘a player I didn’t particularly like or get on with’, adding ‘I just found him dead lazy’ and that ‘I nearly physically attacked him’.

Counago scored more than 50 goals during two spells for the Blues and is now playing for Finnish side FC Honka. The 35-year-old felt compelled to release a media statement after extracts from Keane’s new book ‘The Second Half’ were leaked ahead of tomorrow’s official release.

In an e-mail to the EADT and Ipswich Star, he writes: “The love and respect I feel for ITFC and its fans is something he (Roy Keane) will never feel.

“I always tried my best with the Blues, I felt so loved there, Ipswich is and will always be in my best memories.

“I could say lots of awful things about him but I don’t feel right speaking about him, I feel sorry for him. That’s why whatever he says about me I don’t take offence, even though he’s not telling the truth about me.

“It seems like he needs to criticise players, managers and directors etc to keep selling books as he is not able to do anything else in football. It is a very sad ending for a person that was so big as a player.

“As I told him once, I think he is a complete mess as a football manager. As he has said in his book, he wanted to hit me, but behind his appearance there’s a coward.

“I just hope he can find happiness in his life as, in my opinion, being that miserable must be very mentally draining.

“With my best wishes to ITFC family!”