Boss Roy Keane says he is hopeful that chairman and owner Marcus Evans will continue to back him despite the Blues’ disappointing season. The Town manager admits that his side will have to pick up a few wins in the next few weeks to ensure his longer term ambitions with the club.

Keane said: “We hope so, but as much as you’ve got to look at the bigger picture, you’ve got to live in the day as well and try and get a few results under our belts. We need to look at players for next season, look at the characters that we possibly need.

“I’ve had 10 or 11 months at the club now, I’ve got a feel for the fabric of the club, what I think it lacks and what it needs. Unfortunately it’s taken a lot of setbacks to get there.”

The Blues boss says other owners might not have shown so much patience with him: “I’ve been very fortunate, very lucky. I’ve seen managers under a lot more pressure than me even with better results. I think Gareth Southgate was about fourth when he lost his job [at Middlesbrough].

“I suppose I’m new to the club and sometimes you don’t get that benefit of the doubt when you’ve been at a club two or three years. When you’re first at a club you get that, and rightly so as you’re sussing out your players, still learning about the club, and I learned a lot about the club on Tuesday night.”

Keane says he’s going to stop answering media questions about issues away from Town for the remaining weeks of the season: “Sky in particular come down here and always focus on what’s going on at other football clubs. I think for the next eight games I’m just focus on what’s going on at my own club, because that’s the priority for me.

“Whatever’s going on at other football clubs, I’ve got enough of my own troubles. I’m a football manager learning my trade and I’m not doing a good enough job at Ipswich and I need to focus on that. I need to focus on my job.”

Keane was speaking prior to the news that former Town skipper and coach Tony Mowbray had left his job as manager of Celtic, a position the Blues boss has been linked with due to his reported friendship with Bhoys director Dermot Desmond. However, the Blues boss, who played for the Glasgow giants in the final days of his career, has shown little sign on of wanting to move on from Portman Road.

Photo: Action Images

BeattiesBeerGut added 11:12 - Mar 26 I'd be happy to see Mowbray come here if Keane goes to Celtic, but not until post-season and only if he leaves without any compensation (i.e resigns). Mowbray failed at Celtic as he failed to adapt his style (the old Ipswich way) to the rigours of a very tough league where nearly all teams play very defensive counter attacking football. We've developed a pretty reasonable defence here under Keane; perhaps Mowbray could come in and develop our attacking capablities ?

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:13 - Mar 26 Who would you ship out sonian blue ?
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CheersThanksTa added 11:24 - Mar 26 Thats IF Celtic come in for him. Perhaps they will be a tad more wary about hiring a former player. Have mixed feelings about RK, it really is a tough call and my knee jerk reaction would be to get shot of him at the end of the season. I dont think there is much point panicking and getting rid of him now. I cant believe that the players pysche are so frail that they will suddenly, as a team, perform better on a consistent basis under/without a new manager, this late in the season. However, I am concerned about the 6-8 points to stay up. IF Keane keeps us in the league comfortably, I feel he has to be given the chance of (starting) another season(he says with clenched fists). But in all honesty, first and foremost, I just want Ipswich to stay in the sodding division!!

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PurgamentumIneo added 11:24 - Mar 26 very poor form from Mariner then, not surprised either though, Pro Footballers are known for their arrogance and Keane has got a point. It happens in the premiership, ridgeons league, SIL, sunday leagues so it should happen in the championship too. KEANO!
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naa added 11:27 - Mar 26 sonian: the worry I have for this close season is that Keane will buy loads more players. His record both here and at Sunderland is pretty dismal, with an awful lot of failures. ME must be running low on the transfer kitty now and can he really afford another £4+m on the likes of Martin and Priskin and Edwards? Bearing in mind that Colback and possibly Murphy and Rosenior will be going back (and hopefully Healy) and that he really doesn't rate Wright (D and R), Garvan and Pablo, we are going to need several players if RK stays. I'm a little worried about his ability to replace them successfully.

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StavangerBlue added 11:32 - Mar 26 As Ipswich fans we have to be more realistic. Every club, or so it seems, is throwing large sums of money chasing glory. For every 10 clubs that are flashing the cash maybe only 1 is getting real rewards. Just because you can spend more doesn't mean you get a better class of player or a player of better ability. I often feel Ipswich are seen as a big fish in the Championship and when we go calling for players prices automatically rise. In response to the "everytime i think he's turned a corner we throw in a Peterborough, Watford or Plymouth result!" comment...we've always done this for as long as I can remember. Typical Town to beat the top of the league side only then to go and lose to the bottom of teh league side the following game. I like Keane's approach and we need to back him all this "will he" "won't he" stuff just seeds doubt in peoples minds. Support YOUR team! Personally I think Curbishley would be a disaster at Town but that is just MHO.

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naa added 11:39 - Mar 26 stavanger: true that we have often done well against big teams only to mess it up against a lower side, but I think you're also missing the fact that those were typically in seasons when we are challenging for the play-offs or automatic promotion. Someone earlier summed it up when they said that this season has been witness to way too many drab draws. And the 'drab' is crucial,. because many are saying 'if only we'd turned x of those draws into wins'. The fact is, the vast majority of those were drab, poor performances that didn't deserve a win.

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devontractorboy added 11:43 - Mar 26 Well said Brogan Spot on!!
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WadzillaBhoy added 11:55 - Mar 26 I know exactly what you mean Roy the Boy Keano will be an amazing manager give him time. Dont force him out its obvious he's still learning but he will be a great manager hopefully still with Ipswich. Some fans dont know which side their bread is buttered on.
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greenkingtone added 12:32 - Mar 26 Stavangerblue: quite right boyee! Few teams have what we call consistency. I'm afraid its the way footballers are.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:36 - Mar 26 Mobray doesn't do 'passion' he was a much bigger hero at Celtic than he ever was at Ipswich and that didn't save him. He's a fair coach, nice chap, but sadly he is not a 'winner'. i8canarys added 09:33 - Mar 26 Mowbray & Venus are available - lets have people with passion for our club
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bleedblue added 12:50 - Mar 26 He is still the man to take us forward, I truely believe that. It wasn't him on the pitch Tuesday night, in fact after he gave them a hiding at half time, they looked ok for the first 5 minutes, obviously still rattled from the hairdryer! Keano's Barmy Army!!
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brogansnose added 13:04 - Mar 26 Firstly i'm not too sure who this 'new' Brogan is but i really cant see why Celtic would be after Keane with his current track record. If you take a look at most sucessful managers in this league they are ones that get ordinary players actually playing like a team like the Pulis's, Coyles and Warnocks of this world. Now before you all go crazy i'm not for a minute advocating any of them replacing Keane or using that style of football. The trouble is is that ME needs us out of this league sharpish and giving the job to a 'celebrity' manager and giving him ( at this level) bags of money clearly isnt working.IF Keane is replaced, and lets not forget that its not our decision when or who will be the replacement, then that person will need time. Trouble is there is so much expectation at all levels in the club that it has built the pressure up to a ridiculous level, just so that we can get twonked in the Premier league. Having said that I think many of us could go with this season being bad if there were green shoots of recovery being seen but as someone above posted you see a little glimmer then there are the Plymouth, Watford and Peterborough farces during which the team and manager look clueless. Personnally i just want to see some decent football because what we have been served up, including last season under Magilton, surely goes against the trade descriptions act. Anyway i only came on here to ask the new Brogan to change his name and avatar. The 'nose' was here first and he doesnt want to be confused with someone who is Keane on Curbishly, excuse the pun.

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Lightningboy added 13:49 - Mar 26 Why's it taken him 10/11 months to assess the fabric of the club?..he seemed to assess sunderland's fabric pretty instantly when he took over there. It's simple..Roy Keane & Ipswich town don't mix. Please Go asap.
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Strider added 14:38 - Mar 26 Whatever people might think about RK at least he talks sensibly and honestly and you have to respect that. Without dreaming of trying to compare him to the legend that was Sir Bobby, it is worth noting that he had 4 mediocre seasons when he joined Ipswich and was constantly linked with the sack. I've been more frustrated than anybody this season, probably because we suddenly expected so much when he joined. He's got two season so give him two seasons and see where we are. I agree with some of the folks above, he has the potential to be a great manager and i hope he takes Ipswich with him on the way.

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Blueknight85 added 15:28 - Mar 26 There is no doubt what so ever that Roy Keane would be at the top of Celtics list he is ideal for them the fans favourite... His style suites them and the SPL... most of Ireland are celtic fans...lol the chairman is his best mate weighing heavilly on celtics minds will be that they need to recoup money lost on paying mowbray off they need to win fans back and generate more income anyway given the lack of it in Scottish football. For celtic signing Keane would be like anyone signing beckham ££££££ cha ching So anyone thinking why would celtic be interested in keane given his record.....you are insane not only because he is ideal for them but also because neither celtic or rangers could attract anyone better anyway...the only half decent managers they can get are ones that have history with the club or country anyway...and there aren't any of those

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thebooks added 15:34 - Mar 26 I am going to strangle the next person who mentions 'The Ipswich Way'. Well, get even more mildly annoyed.
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Blueknight85 added 16:06 - Mar 26 now now "thebooks" calm down it is not the ipswich way to get enoyed and strangle people
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Fatcatevans added 19:40 - Mar 26 How can BeattiesBeerGut describe the scots prem league as ' a strong league' Its a two horse race each year with the third team usually 25 points adrift. Getting ipswich out of the Championship is a far harder job than managing Celtic to silverware. Even Strachan did well up there.
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:39 - Mar 26 yep Fatcatevans ,i like TM but as you rightly say it is always a two horse race, and getting out of Championship would be harder task, im not convinced TM has got what it takes, mores the pity.
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Blueknight85 added 20:51 - Mar 26 i know its not like he has got a team out of the championship before.... mugs
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Keaneish added 20:55 - Mar 26 Sorry all, like i said in a previous post, my patience, although it has been staunch Keane all season, has finally gone. I'm now looking at: Curbishley Burley Mowbray...in that order.
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dirtydingusmagee added 21:32 - Mar 26 not saying he couldnt ,given the circumstances he did bloody well with Brom,i respect him,but the comments made regarding Celtic are valid .
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bennyblue added 01:50 - Mar 27 i reckon the scottish toytown league would be perfect for roy to practise destroying clubs send him off quick at this point i dont care who his replacement is as long as they stay away from sky i never did like those murdochs.. my dog rusty is still available and would see the team higher as any fool can get a team mid table in the 2nd
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ChambersM added 02:37 - Mar 27 KEANE YOUR LUCKY YOU'RE SUCH A RIC BUGGER,, OTHERWISE ME WOULD HAVE GOT RIDE A WHILE AGO, THIS IS WHAT WORRIESS ME IS HAT ME I S WORRIED ABOUT LOSING A FFEW PENNIES SACKING HIM AND SO IS HOLDING OUT ON HIM,...NAIVITY!
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