Roy Keane has warned he may walk away from Sunderland should personal abuse from the club's fans continue.

Keane came under fire at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday after his Black Cats outfit struggled to overcome lowly Northampton on penalties in the Carling Cup third round.

The former Manchester United midfielder opted to give some of his fringe players a run out and they struggled as the League One outfit nearly caused a major upset.

Keane, who is out of contract next summer, has no problems with fans venting their views on the team's display, but stated he will not tolerate any abuse aimed in his direction.

"I have no problems with fans expressing their opinions," he told reporters.

"But one or two had a go pretty much towards myself - and that's something I won't tolerate. That's something I've not come into the job to accept again.

"I appreciate criticism, constructive criticism, which I'm going to receive. Trust me, my biggest critic is myself.

"Yes, I got my team wrong, definitely. I should have gone with one or two younger players. But abuse like that is something I just won't tolerate.

"Listen, in football, everyone has short memories. There was some idiot about three or four weeks ago having a go and you remember these things.

"You shouldn't, because we've got some bloody brilliant supporters, but you always remember the idiots."