Former Everton and Republic of Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane has branded Manchester United legend Roy Keane "out of order" for his comments on Aiden McGeady and Daryl Murphy back in 2016 after defeat to Belarus.
The former United skipper moved into management before he took on the role as Martin O'Neill's assistant for the Emerald Isle before departing in 2018 by mutual agreement.
Kilbane, who made over a century of caps for the Republic of Ireland, has reignited the spat with Keane.
He said via the Daily Star : "For someone not in the know, they would think we are talking about the Republic of Ireland manager here, but Roy Keane is the assistant manager, that is the point.
"Roy Keane comes out and questions the ability of one of the players in the squad in Aiden McGeady.
"Having played alongside Roy, if any assistant manager that he played for questioned one of his team-mates or him, he would have been one of the first to go and knock on the manager's door and assistant manager's door and say: 'What are you doing?'
"I think Roy was bang out of order with what he said, particularly about Aiden. He is the assistant manager and you have got to know your role.
"Roy is supposed to be the buffer between the players and the manager and all this is going to do is alienate Roy from the players.
"Now I’m sure Roy’s not bothered, he doesn’t care. But you have to have some kind of harmony going into this tournament.
"Roy has a vital role to play as a buffer to the manager and the players, but he has just got to curb it sometimes. He can’t come out and say what he said about Aiden."
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