Football legend Roy Keane has apologised for his comments last week over the Thierry Henry handball affair and his anti-FAI rant.

The former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain, who wouldn't be accustomed to changing his mind on subjects, apologised after he was confronted by an angry fan at the Ipswich Town AGM on Monday night.

Keane made some scathing remarks at a press conference last Friday, lashing out at the FAI and blaming the Irish defence for the goal that knocked Ireland out of the World Cup.

"The comments were perhaps over the top and I apologise to any supporter I might have offended," said Keane.

"I'm 38 years of age and I'm going to make mistakes."

Disgruntled

At the heated meeting in Ipswich, a disgruntled Town fan asked Keane to step down as boss after the team's abysmal start to the season.

Keane was on the defensive for much of the meeting as members discussed Ipswich's worst start to a season in 73 years.

He admitted that if current form continues he will not be in the Ipswich for too much longer.

"I know that if results don't improve I'll lose my job, but I'm not fearful," he said after receiving the backing of Ipswich chief-executive Simon Clegg.

Keane has led Ipswich to just one victory in 19 league and cup games, and the former Ireland and Manchester United captain said that he was "embarrassed and hurt" by the team's record.

The situation at Ipswich would not have been helped by Keane's remarks last week when he decided to lay the blame for not making the World Cup squarely at the door of the FAI and the Irish defence.

Speaking at the now infamous press conference last week, Keane said: "I think the supporters deserve better, the manager (Giovanni Trapattoni) deserves better and probably most of the players deserve better, but I'm not sure the FAI deserve better. What goes around comes around.

"Ireland had their chances in the two games (against France), and they never took them. But it's the usual FAI reaction -- 'we've been robbed, the honesty of the game...'" he added.

"I'd focus on why they didn't clear it," he said.

"I'd be more annoyed with my defenders and my goalkeeper than Thierry Henry. How can you let the ball bounce in your six-yard box? How can you let Thierry Henry get goal-side of you?".

Niall Quinn, Keane's former international team-mate and the man who gave him his first managerial post labelled Keane's outburst as "disturbing and strange".

FAI chief executive John Delaney was also disappointed at Keane's comments.

"It's sad to see a great former player reflected in that manner. It's time to move on," said Delaney, who was singled out for abuse by Keane during the rant over the Saipan affair.

- Cormac Byrne