Roy Keane branded the failure to present his Sunderland side with the Coca-Cola Championship trophy on Sunday "a disgrace" after they claimed the title with a 5-0 win at Luton.

Sunderland's victory, coupled with a 1-0 defeat for morning leaders Birmingham at Preston, ensured they would be promoted as champions - but they were not able to celebrate their victory with the trophy.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce had already expressed his amazement at the decision not to present the eventual winners with the prize after their triumph, and Keane was quick to back his former Manchester United team-mate.

"It is a PR disaster that we did not pick it up today," said Keane. "The supporters paid good money to travel here to watch us.

"I cannot get my head around why we were not able to receive the trophy. It is a disgrace.

"People mentioned safety, but I don't think that would have been a problem.

"There is a function organised for tomorrow night, though, and we will receive the trophy then."

Keane was also confident about his team's prospects in the Barclays Premiership next season after watching them demolish Luton.

The Black Cats were 2-0 up inside six minutes thanks to goals from Anthony Stokes and Daryl Murphy, and they added three more after the break through Murphy and substitutes Ross Wallace and David Connolly.

Keane believes that to aim solely to survive would be negative, and the Irishman plans to strengthen his squad in the summer.

The former Manchester United captain, who won seven league titles at Old Trafford, also paid tribute to chairman Niall Quinn and the club's board of directors.

Keane continued: "It is nice to go up as champions, and there is a massive challenge ahead.

"I will meet Niall and the board next week, and we will look at what kind of money is available.

"There are a few players at the back of my mind who I would like to bring to the club, but that is just the start. Signing them is sometimes easier said than done.

"They are good players, at good clubs, and they are under contract. You have to set your standards very high, and we will have to raise the bar next season.

"It is going to be very hard, and I am not predicting we will win it, but I predict we will add something to the Premiership.

"Niall and the board are the team behind the team. Niall and the board do not interfere, and that is why it has worked. It would not have done otherwise."

Luton manager Kevin Blackwell admitted the match had been "men against boys" as his relegated side were outclassed in virtually every department.

But the former Leeds boss, whose former club will also compete in League One next season, was quick to heap praise on the work done by Keane and Quinn on Wearside.

Blackwell said: "Roy has been different class, but Niall has to take monumental praise, because he has done a fantastic job.

"They have a good manager and a dynamic young board, and, at the moment, it looks like the perfect marriage."