Ex-Blues boss Roy Keane is being lined up as Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland number two with the former Celtic, Aston Villa and Leicester manager now appearing certain to be confirmed as the successor to Giovanni Trapattoni, who left by mutual consent in September.

O’Neill is now understood to have indicated to the FAI that he is interested in the job following a series of meetings. Discussions are believed to be continuing over the weekend with confirmation perhaps coming as soon as Monday.

The 61-year-old is reported to have instigated the idea of former Ireland skipper Keane, 42, joining his staff and the ex-Manchester United man is thought to be interested in the role despite a well-documented rocky relationship with the FAI.

Former midfielder Ray Houghton and performance director Ruud Dokter have been working as headhunters for the FAI and the ex-Liverpool man confirmed to the BBC that he expected developments soon: "I'm involved in the process of bringing the manager in.

"At the moment there are a few things under way but until things are signed we just have to wait and see. Something, hopefully, in the next few days will come about."

Current Town manager Mick McCarthy was seen as the other frontrunner along with O’Neill but the Blues never received an approach from the FAI.

Photo: Action Images

blackcat added 10:38 - Nov 2 Good luck to them, their going to need it ! Hope the end of speculation over mm will help us get back on track as it seems our form dropped while it's been going on
0

SouperJim added 10:39 - Nov 2 As I said all along, Mick is going nowhere.
0

essextractorboy93 added 10:40 - Nov 2 Good news, we are stabilising with Mick at the moment. He is giving us a good platform to build on. The most I can see Ireland doing is getting to the group stages of the Euros. Very surprised if they got further.
0

SheffieldBlue1 added 11:06 - Nov 2 So Ireland didn't fancy trying Mick at the helm with Keane as his assistant? Can't think why...
0

BroskiBeen added 11:18 - Nov 2 Still annoyed with Mick not saying either way, he doesn't sound passionate about Ipswich anymore in my opinion, and his press last night "I'm glad we didn't lose" should be "a draw is not good enough"
0

smellmycheese added 11:27 - Nov 2 Passionately wish you had gone Mick . You are turning this club into the most dour, boring side I have ever seen. I'd rather lose having a go than watch the utter sh.ite that you served up last night. Most boring game I've ever watched in my entire life. Need to start printing on our tickets "Please Bring a Sleeping Bag". Go Mick please, anywhere but here.
0

Keaneish added 11:32 - Nov 2 Yep, me too SouperJim. Glad that's the case too. Now he needs to tinker with this side a little over the next week ahead of a tough game at Blackpool.
0

cats_whiskers added 11:33 - Nov 2 I hardly believe that O'Neill would want Keane as an assistant! Unless there is a dire need for his would be smiley face and that jovial banter rubbing off on to the team and turn them into a winning outfit. And with possibly Keane's inclusion in their future set-up, this is why McCarthy isn't in the frame for the job as those two don't exchange Xmas cards.
0

BillBlue added 11:38 - Nov 2 BroskiBeen. I am sure you don't mean it to be but your Icon is a disgrace to Town. You have removed the Suffolk Punch and turned the Town badge into half Malaysian Cardiff City/half Town. Sorry, but IMO not good enough. I have no objection, whatsoever, to your putting your Welsh background on but to tamper with the badge in that way is wrong. Why not just put CYMRU above or below the badge - that would tell us eveerything we need to know?

0

JW_ITFC added 11:46 - Nov 2 Calm down BillBlue, its only a logo. He's hardly taking over the club!
0

TimmyH added 12:14 - Nov 2 I give it a game before Keane has a bust up with O'Neill, sounds like a recipe for disaster!
0

Marcus added 12:29 - Nov 2 @BillBlue - I see nothing wrong with it. I like it. As I'm also in Wales (Rhosllanarchrugog) it's great to see others identifying with both ITFC and Cymru. To my knowledge nobody commented when I combined the Merlion with the Town badge when I worked in Singapore for three years.
0

Marcus added 12:31 - Nov 2 Back on topic - I've always wondered what Keane can do when he has access to players and not a cheque book. He always wanted things too fast and couldn't cope with developing players. At international level it might just work for him.
0

Kesgraveblue57 added 12:39 - Nov 2 Has Mick McCarthy ego been dented over not getting the Irish job ?
0

emergencylime added 13:04 - Nov 2 Maybe Keane is resigned to admitting he needs a learned scholar to give him a managerial education. I can see MON doing the press conferences/off-the-field stuff and letting Keane loose to give orders on the pitch with MON's input.
0

MVBlue added 13:06 - Nov 2 Ho Ho quite funny. Good cop bad cop Keane and O'Neill. Now maybe the Irish will see Kesne up close and really find out what he's all about.
0

Michael11 added 13:12 - Nov 2 Hahahahahahahahaha Cya later Ireland. Does mean we won't see that tw@ on the England games now?
0

blueboy1981 added 15:22 - Nov 2 ........ not sure how I feel about any of this - for the sake of the Irish, or ours for that matter.
0

RegencyBlue added 16:06 - Nov 2 Cannot see this working at all. Keane doesn't strike me as anyone's number two!
0

runningout added 17:04 - Nov 2 Good luck to the Irish Republic
0

sereneblue added 18:30 - Nov 2 Keane has almost admitted that his managerial skills need tuning. I think he see's the No.2 position for Ireland away to learn off O'Neill before he takes on another managers job. Good luck Roy.
0

Jimmy86 added 18:41 - Nov 2 Dunno how that would work as keano has a very strong personality and cant see him working under anyone. With regards to a comment above i dont know if mick has or will ever be passionate towards our club, hencd the clause in the contract, which expired and also his refusal to rule himself out of the running. He has no connection to the club or the area and its just a job to him. Hopefully things improve on recent events, last night was pretty dire, watched it back today on sky and didnt make good watching

0

Tractorog added 19:33 - Nov 2 Ha ha !
0

jas0999 added 20:03 - Nov 2 I wish them both well.
0

chevvymalc added 20:53 - Nov 2 I hope this signals the end of his itv pundit stint i might start watching it again as they do'nt have to try to hard to replace him with someone more human!!!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls