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Roy Keane has resigned as manager of Sunderland after crisis talks on Wearside this morning.

The board accepted the Irishman's decision to leave Sunderland with immediate effect and Ricky Sbragia, the club's first-team coach, will take over team affairs on an interim basis, assisted by reserve-team coach Neil Bailey and Dwight Yorke.

Keane had come under increasing pressure after a run of six defeats in their past seven matches. The club have lost four in succession at the Stadium of Light and have taken root in the Premier League relegation zone.

Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, wished Keane well after his departure.

"I would like to pay thanks to Roy Keane for all the hard work he has put in, progressing this club, lifting its status and growing its worldwide profile," he said.

"Roy deserves huge respect for his contribution and the manner in which he guided the club from the depths of the Championship back to the Premier League. His winning mentality and single-mindedness were just what this club needed when Drumaville took over shortly before his arrival.

"Roy's decision to stand aside and allow someone else to take charge of the next chapter sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club. Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself.

"He had put a lot of effort in here, brought more than just his presence here - he brought a way of thinking into this place. He was instrumental in developing a winning mentality - that was the toughest thing of all for him to come and do when we were at the foot of the Championship.

"He brought standards to this club which are amazing. But to do that, it's intense. He is such a respected figure around the world that the media is intense, the fan pressure is intense.

"I tried for two years to keep as much pressure off him as possible, but obviously the Premier League is the Premier League and I guess it came to the point where Roy thought he had reached the end of that journey.

"Reluctantly, I accepted that. It was not the easiest thing to do, but I think it was the best thing to do in the circumstances at that point."