IPSWICH: An Ipswich Town footballer who was caught speeding has sensationally blamed “unreasonable” former manager Roy Keane.

Irish international Damien Delaney was clocked in his Audi A5 sports car doing 44mph in a 30mph zone in Tuddenham Road, Ipswich, on October 15 last year.

But the defender, of Fonnereau Road, Ipswich, claimed he was forced to drive quickly because he was running late for training and worried that Keane would fine him two weeks’ wages.

His case was heard at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court yesterday and he pleaded guilty by post to a charge of speeding.

But in a sensational twist Delaney also wrote a letter of mitigation to the magistrates – outlining his reasons for the offence.

Delaney said: “The reason I was going too fast was because I was late for work.

“I had an unreasonable boss at the time who would not accept lateness and would not have listened to me.

“I was worried that I was going to be fined two weeks’ wages.”

Delaney was fined �235, given four points on his driving licence and also ordered to pay �100 in costs.

Keane, who is currently out of work after being sacked by Town in January, had a reputation during his managerial career for not tolerating lateness from his players. While at Sunderland Keane transfer-listed midfielder Liam Miller for persistently turning up late for training.

When he was unveiled as Ipswich boss back in April 2009, Keane said: “All I ask is that players are on time for training and give 100 per cent.

“If they are up for it, they’ll enjoy working for me, if not it will be a very brief relationship.”

Last December the club strenuously denied reports that Keane and Delaney had had a training ground bust-up after the defender missed a run of games.

Twice-capped international Delaney joined Ipswich in the summer of 2009 and was Keane’s first signing for the club.

The former Cork city, Leicester and Hull City player cost �750,000 from QPR and has made 49 appearances scoring two goals.

It has been a bad week for Delaney after his training ground tackle on Robbie Keane left the Tottenham striker in doubt to play for Republic of Ireland’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifer today.

n What do you think of Delaney’s mitigation? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.