SAM Allardyce has delivered a withering put-down to Roy Keane after the Irishman’s ‘‘bizarre’’ outburst at his former Manchester United team-mates who have become managers.

Keane, the new Ipswich manager, questioned whether Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes should be regarded as ‘‘good managers’’ or successful because they have yet to win a trophy.

But Allardyce, whose Blackburn team come up against Bruce’s Wigan side tomorrow, said Keane himself had a long way to go to be seen alongside either of his former United team-mates in terms of club management.

Allardyce said: ‘‘I find that statement to be quite bizarre to be perfectly honest.

‘‘What Sparky and Brucey have done with the resources they have had shows they are both top managers.

‘‘I think Roy’s a long distance away from a Steve Bruce and a Mark Hughes by his lack of experience in the job.

‘‘So I find that quite a bizarre statement and I wouldn’t agree with that at all.’’ Allardyce said that for clubs such as Wigan, being successful did not mean just winning trophies.

He added: ‘ ‘ B e i n g successf u l m e a n s b e i n g m o r e consistent in t h e i r results and fini s h i n g h i g h e r up the table than they have ever done before.

‘‘What Brucey has done in a short time at Wigan and getting them safe in the Premier League as early as he has done has been a tremendous achievement.’’ Allardyce is good friends with Bruce but is expecting no favours at Ewood Park, and is hoping that a short break for the players at G l e - n e a - g l e s w i l l h a v e eased s o m e of the p r e s - sure of the relegation fight from their shoulders.

The break was paid for out of the players’ fines fund, and Allardyce said golf and bonding could be more important at this stage of the season than lengthy hours on the training pitch.

He added: ‘‘Having a bit of relaxation has been the most important thing to take away the pressures of this transparent bubble we all live in.

‘‘If you start worrying about it too much it can be bad preparation for the game.

‘‘We know it’s going to be a tough game.

“There are lots of managers in the Premier League that I know extremely well and Brucey’s one I know better than most, but friendship goes out of the window for those 90 minutes.

‘‘Certainly I would love to be in his position playing this game but whatever happens we will have a drink after and see where we go from there.’’ Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson has welcomed Roy Keane back into the managerial fold.

Keane surprised many observers when he decided to take the Ipswich job, but starting with today’s trip to Cardiff, Keane’s arrival has ensured they will be scrutinised to an extent not seen since their halcyon days under Bobby Robson three decades ago.

Ferguson is looking forward to seeing how Keane’s second managerial job unfolds.

Ferguson thinks it is good news the man he feels is the most influential player he has ever had is back in the management game.

‘‘He made the point about wanting to get back into the game,’’ he said.

‘‘It is always nice to see that.

‘‘We will just have to see what happens now.’’