BOSS ‘FINE’ WITH KEANE JOB OFFERS
ROY KEANE would have Martin O’neill’s blessing to return to club management before the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
But the Ireland boss still believes his ‘loyal’ assistant will be by his side when the campaign kicks off in March.
“There’s always been a possibility of Roy (above) doing that,” said O’neill. “It’s fine whatever he does as long as the FAI are happy with that if the case comes up.”
Former Sunderland and Ipswich gaffer Keane has said he could be tempted by a return to a day-to-day job “soon”.
Keane insisted he was not actively looking to quit Ireland having signed a contract extension in January for the Euro campaign.
Speaking to Notts TV earlier this month, Keane said: “This idea I’d be looking at a club and thinking, ‘I fancy that one’, I don’t work that way, I don’t network.
“I just focus on the job in hand and that’s a big one with Ireland.
“But hopefully soon I’d like to become a manager again but we’ll see what happens. It’s just getting that offer and challenge that will rock my boat.
“I’d be realistic, it’s hardly going to be a Premiership offer, realistically in the Championship but there are a lot of brilliant clubs in the Championship.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I could go in there and get a club promoted with the right support.”
O’neill claims not to have seen the interview and has not discussed a switch to club management with his No2.
“He has always shown great loyalty, he has never left the cause,” said O’neill. “You know Keane as well as I do – well, even I’m still learning.
“He has won in his life. He has driven a top quality side – including the manager of Tuesday’s opposition [Ryan Giggs] – to great things and I think together we’ll make it.”
As Mirror Sport exclusively revealed, Keane clashed with Harry Arter and Jon Walters in the build-up to the friendly win over USA in June.
The fallout not only dominated last month’s heavy defeat in Wales and the friendly draw in Poland but also this disappointing double-header against Denmark and Wales.