Roy Keane’s tenure as Town manager is close to coming to an end, according to widespread reports this morning. Alan Curbishley, spotted at Town’s recent games against Cardiff and at Watford, is said to be the man being lined up as his replacement.

According to one report, Keane’s relationship with owner Marcus Evans has broken down and they only communicate through chief executive Simon Clegg, a claim which may stem from the Town manager himself saying that he rarely talks to Evans last week: “We don’t speak on a week to week basis, which suits me, I’m not a great one for talking. It suits the owner, obviously I know he goes to the games and we have a chief executive here.”

The Town boss is also said to have fallen out with his squad, about whom he has been highly critical in recent weeks with a major turnaround in playing staff likely in the summer if Keane remains at Portman Road.

Regardless of the truth of today’s claim regarding Evans, the owner is unlikely to be happy with the current situation having given Keane significant funds to make a promotion push and with Town still far nearer the relegation places than the top six and currently showing few signs of pushing on.

Last season, Evans waited until Jim Magilton’s side had no chance of the play-offs before dismissing the Northern Irishman, giving Keane the final couple of games to access the existing squad. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Town owner and chairman chose to make a similar move this time around once the Blues’ Championship status was assured. One paper today claims he could make the decision even before that is the case.

Curbishley and his Charlton and West Ham assistant Mervyn Day were spotted watching the home win against Cardiff and the away defeat to Watford. Day was reportedly on scouting duty for Fulham, but the pair are now available for work after Curbishley won his case for constructive dismissal by West Ham and were strongly linked with Town this time last year.

Meanwhile, Keane's name continues to be linked with the Celtic manager's job vacated by Tony Mowbray on Thursday.

Elsewhere, reports in Ireland are linking the Blues with 21-year-old striker Ciarán Kilduff, who currently plays in the League of Ireland with UCD. The 6ft 3in tall former Shamrock Rovers trainee is rated as one of the top youngsters playing in Ireland at present.

Photo: Action Images

weeally added 08:39 - Mar 28 Children, children, children..all this petty squabling amongst oursleves..what has Keane done to us??? Recommend you all check out comments by Washbrookblue curently on page 4 of these comments if you haven't. Its a fair and reasoned statement and blows all othe comment away. If you really care about ITFC and want us to move forward (not just be a 'difficult side to beat' but stuck in mid table for years) you will see the sense.

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depressed added 12:39 - Mar 28 What a fickle bunch of fans we have on here...Keanes only been here 10 months and the same old keyboard geeks are slagging him off at every opportunity. ME appointed him for a minimum of 2 years so surely allow him this. As for those calling for Curbs..Oh yeh clubs are queing at his door to get his signature! And NO we won't get relegated this season, so lighten up.
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Ryorry added 13:42 - Mar 28 just to note, following Weally's comments, that Washbrookblue's comments are on p3 as well as p4 - and I couldn't agree more about their solidity - everyone on both sides of the argument should read em...
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DrJeckyll added 14:32 - Mar 28 seriously, if you were a manager that had ever been to the Portman road morgue, or even a player would you be over excited about plying your trade here. Since the extensions to the ground, Portman road has the potential to be a very intimidating place now, unfortunately with all the griping that goes on it is mostly our team which is negatively effected playing there

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:46 - Mar 28 Dr Jeckyll, i didnt realise you were ITFC phsycologist !
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naa added 19:24 - Mar 28 Problem is Dr Jeckyll that I actually think you're wrong. By making the two end stands taller the ability for sound to accumulate and travel is much reduced. I sit in Churchmans and I can hardly hear thre North stand anymore (not just this season). In the past the north was very loud. So while I agree that it's quiet these days the ground has actually contributed to that. Plus I think you'll find that fans react to performance, it's jus the way it is. And there's been little to shout about this season.

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ipswich1992 added 23:42 - Mar 28 Right let's be honest be honest about it, when Roy keane was appointed it was a very bold appointment in terms of where marcus Evans wants to take this club. He wanted us up and fast. And Roy ticked all the boxes for him he done it quickly at Sunderland, well known in the footballing world( all be it as a player), learnt from two of the greatest managers. I for one at the time of his appointment was very exited about the prospects of our season and there was a real buzz around portman road. The two wins at the end of last season increased expectations. Everything since then has been a total failure and if he wasn't owed so much money if he was sacked I believe he would have gone by now. I think enough is now enough he has wasted loads of money, failed to select a settled side, destroyed players confidence, ruled by fear, and most importantly made us too afraid of losing to ho out and try and win a game ( which in my opinion explains the draws) if performances were improving I would be tempted to give keane another season but there not and I struggle to see how anybody can somehow see how we will suddenly push promotion next season. Everyone is entitled to there opinion but I believe that anyone who wants keane to say is purely based on his name and not anything else. My question would be do they go to the games because we have Been woeful for at least 75% of the season. And manager has to take the blame I'm afraid. Keane out!

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ipswich1992 added 23:44 - Mar 28 One more thing would love Mowbray at least performances would improve. Also wouldn't mind seeing Steve coppel who didn't have a lot of money to spend at Reading.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 01:19 - Mar 29 Anyone at Swansea was left under no illusion that the players on the field (can't speak for Garv and Pablo) gave 100% for Keane and the bulk of the fans were behind him.
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bennyblue added 06:50 - Mar 29 everyone at swansea are under an illusion and will allways be
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