Northern Ireland stars David Healy and George McCartney last night revealed their shock at Roy Keane’s decision to quit the manager’s job at Sunderland.

Speaking exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph, Healy and McCartney spoke warmly about their former boss, who walked away from the Stadium of Light yesterday with the Black Cats in the relegation zone following last Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Bolton.

Writing in his Belfast Telegraph column, Healy, brought to Sunderland from Fulham by Keane in the summer, said: “I was genuinely sorry and disappointed to see him go.

“He had a tough job to do and he had to make difficult selection decisions and I have no hard feelings with him for not selecting me as much as I would have liked.

“It’s worth remembering what he did for the club. As our chairman Niall Quinn said he pulled us off our knees when the club was struggling in the Championship and took us into the Premiership.”

McCartney, who Keane said was one of the best left-backs in the business when signing him from West Ham, said: “More often than not it is the manager who takes the blame for poor performances. Roy obviously felt that it was the right time for him and the club for this decision to be taken. But he did a great job for Sunderland in the last two to three years and I’m sure he isn’t finished with football.

“There was a great chance for me to come to Sunderland and work with Roy and I took it.

“He has achieved so much in the game and he is still a legend. Unfortunately, I can’t work with him any more but myself and the rest of the team have the highest respect for him.”

Former Newcastle and Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is the early favourite to replace Keane.

Sunderland are at Keane’s old club Manchester United on Saturday.