MINDING HIS NUMBER 2 O’Neill on Keane

I mentioned to him about the possibility of working with me. It took me four-and-a-half seconds. He was delighted with it. I said the roles we’d have and he told me he’d reverse those in about 10 minutes.

- ON ASKING KEANE TO BE HIS NO 2 - ON THE PROSPECT OF KEANE GETTING TOO BIG FOR HIS BOOTS

At their very best, they were brilliant for each other. Roy Keane helped Alex Ferguson become the great, great manager that he is and along the way I’m sure Alex helped develop Roy Keane as a player.

- ON KEANE AND FERGUSON’S RELATIONSHIP

I don’t intend to change Roy. I will maybe make the occasional adjustment, if that’s a possibility. A little bit of volatility will do nobody any harm, I think, and Roy as well. I don’t want Roy to lose all those things that make him endearing.

- ON TWEAKING THE KEANE MODEL I can see Roy getting involved with the players. The younger players obviously will look up to him for a start, but that sort of thing can wear off. I believe Roy wants to integrate with the players.

- ON KEANE’S IMMEDIATE ROLE I’ve got complete trust in Roy. I don’t think he’s wishing to run out at the drop of a hat. I said to Roy, that if I make a mess of it he goes with me, no staying on. I fully expect him, after the contracts have finished to go on and manage again.

- ON KEANE STAYING THE DISTANCE Do I expect Roy to become a manager again? Absolutely. But I think at this moment, just maybe with the experience at Ipswich this is an opportunity to pick up and learn. I expect to learn from him too. I think it will be a change for him and it’s something that we have discussed and, while he is accepting it, he wants to pick up and hopefully learn some things, if that’s possible.

- ON MENTORING KEANE FOR THE FUTURE