Keane sent text to quit Sunderland job, Telegraph says

The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers.

Keane's text goodbye?

Roy Keane used a text message to tell Sunderland Chairman Niall Quinn that he had quit, several newspapers, including the Telegraph and Guardian, reported.

Calls and text messages sent by Quinn to the former Manchester United midfielder went unanswered as Keane didn't want to change his mind, the Telegraph said.

Sunderland received a final confirmation of Keane's decision yesterday afternoon when his solicitor Michael Kennedy sent an official fax to the club, the newspaper added.

Keane, who spent around 80 million pounds ($117.5 million) on players in the past two seasons, didn't inform his squad of his decision, the Guardian said. He hasn't shown up in Sunderland since it suffered a 4-1 home loss to Bolton last weekend.

The Guardian said Quinn is considering installing former Bolton coach Sam Allardyce as Keane's replacement. Allardyce hasn't coached since he was fired by Newcastle midway through last season.

The Daily Mirror linked Zenit St. Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat and former Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier with the vacancy.

Sunderland is 18th out of 20 teams after four wins in the last 15 games.

Eduardo return close

Arsenal's Croatian international striker Eduardo Da Silva is weeks away from returning to first team action after breaking his leg nine months ago, the Telegraph reported.

Coach Arsene Wenger said Eduardo has been taking part in training matches for the first time since he broke bones in his ankle and leg at Birmingham City in February, the paper reported.

"As soon as possible, he will play," the newspaper quoted Wenger as saying. "He is joining in full training matches, but he needs games now."

Arsenal has fielded strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner in Eduardos absence.

Humiliated Gallas eyes exit

Arsenal's William Gallas felt humiliated after losing the club captaincy and is looking to leave the club in January, the Sun reported. It said he would like to move to AC Milan.

Wenger stripped the French national team player of the captaincy two weeks ago after he publicly criticized his teammates.