Roy Keane declares war on shopaholic WAGs who run their husbands' lives

The Sunderland boss believes WAG power is responsible for some footballers refusing to sign up to his club over the summer.

Apparently Sunderland, with its modest collection of shops and boutiques, just wouldn't be able to keep their wives in the fashion to which they are accustomed. (Which is usually a mix of Versace, Gucci and Jimmy Choo).

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Roy Keane: The Sunderland manager launched a scathing attack on the rising influence of WAGs on their footballer partners

Shopaholic WAGS: Victoria Beckham, Coleen McLoughlin, Louise Bonsall (Michael Owen) and Elen Rives (Frank Lampard)

Keane insisted that some players had decided against the North-East club simply because "their wife wants to go shopping in London".

The former Manchester United star was scathing about the rising influence of the stilettos on the sidelines.

"Greed will always be a part of the game and that will never change," he said.

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"But this side of it, with the women running the show, concerns me and worries me.

"Maybe it shouldn't really because the players I am talking about are soft anyway. If someone doesn't want to come to Sunderland then all well and good.

"But if they don't want to come to Sunderland because their wife wants to go shopping in London, then it is a sad state of affairs.

"What is your priority? Your wife and her shopping, money or your football?

"Unfortunately that is what is influencing a lot of footballers' decisions. Priorities have changed for footballers and they are being dictated to by their wives and girlfriends.

"I could name three or four big players now and clearly their wives and girlfriends are running their lives because they are doing these photoshoots and all that kind of stuff."

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Keane, 36, did not specify which players were involved. However he was snubbed by Chris Baird, who went to Fulham, David Nugent, now at Portsmouth, and Leighton Baines, who went to Everton, after he had agreed fees for them with their respective clubs.

He said: "I have had a player this summer who didn't even ring us back because his wife wanted to move to London. And shopping was mentioned. It might astonish many people but it is true."

Sunderland, it must be said, is not generally noted for its designer boutiques. Nearby Newcastle, on the other hand, boasts Victorian arcades, Georgian shopping streets and the world-renowned Quayside.