Former Reading and Watford boss Brendan Rodgers is understood to be amongst Roy Keane’s targets as he looks to add an assistant manager to his Portman Road staff. Rodgers and Keane are close friends having met while studying for their UEFA Pro Licences.

The Blues boss revealed that he was looking for a new deputy at his Friday press conference: “I’ll be looking to bring in an assistant manager over the next few months and I’ve got one or two people in mind for that, so changes will be made in the backroom staff.”

Rodgers, 37, left Reading by mutual consent in December, only a few months into an unsuccessful spell with the Royals. Prior to that, the Northern Irishman spent most of the previous season managing Watford.

Having had his playing career cut short by injury at 20 while with Reading, Rodgers became a youth coach at the Madejski Stadium and then at Chelsea, where he ran the reserves under Jose Mourinho’s management.

His work there brought him to the attention of Watford and they made him their manager in November 2008.

Photo: Action Images

bennyblue added 23:03 - Apr 30 but has he ever been employed by sunderland
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Aussieblue added 23:07 - Apr 30 Do we really need an assistant manager before we get a decent striker to help conner up front. The mind boggles.
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bennyblue added 23:10 - Apr 30 the bind moggles see roy has binded our moggles now how low will that stan moop
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WadzillaBhoy added 23:15 - Apr 30 Whats happening to Tony Loughlan?
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ThatMuhrenCross added 23:16 - Apr 30 Would be good. But what happened to 'Charlie'?!
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blueherts added 23:23 - Apr 30 Be good - well respected guy - I think a good appointment glad this area is being addressed - I think this is a key role for us to move forward next season
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andyblue added 23:34 - Apr 30 You must be bloody mad! Brendan and his big book of football and Roy and his big book of man management . . . . . Enjoy playing the local derboes at Colchester and Roots Hall as the Budgies thrive
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bennyblue added 06:29 - May 1 is he a brother of roys ?
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floridaboy added 07:34 - May 1 There are are a few pathetic people on here. Same old ones posting the same pathetic comments. Please go and pester someone else
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Keaneish added 08:17 - May 1 'An unsuccessful spell with Reading'? Yeah, they were below us weren't they? This report doesn't inspire me or anyone else on here by the looks of it!
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Dolly2.0 added 08:39 - May 1 Aussie Blue, is it not possible to look for a striker and an assistant manager at the same time? If something as simple as this boggles your mind you probably need professional help.
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steed added 09:07 - May 1 bennyblue why not actually say something constructive for a change or do you not understand the meaning of the word. As all your posts on here are very boring and very predictable.
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JammyDodgerrr added 10:01 - May 1 Might be good for Priskin!
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Bluetone added 10:03 - May 1 So Roy chooses an Assistant Manager who is no threat to him. Good call for him bad call for the Town.
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PimsNumber1 added 10:34 - May 1 why is he no threat ? Because his management record is worse than Keane`s? Rogers on paper has done nothing as a manager so does that mean he will be a decent assistant . No idea ! Houghton had a terrible record as an assistant or caretaker manager , then it all clicked at newcastle when he was given another chance when there was chaos at the club so you never know. Rogers was highly thought of by Murinho when at Chelsea so must have some talent. But then steve Clark was his assistant and he hasnt set the world alight at west ham. Getting a good assistant in is tricky , do you look at their playing/managing record , or their tech ability. mc claren phelan , kidd , rice, clark etc did nothing before being top assistants .

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brogansnose added 10:52 - May 1 You don't get to be reserve team manager at Chelsea under 'The Special One' without having something about you and if i remember rightly he also changed that awful Watford style into something more attractive whilst being their manager. Let's give the bloke a chance before needlessly wading in.
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Redmond added 11:05 - May 1 Get This Guy In And Its The Biggest Mistake Ever
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Manic_Blue added 11:28 - May 1 Getting boring on here now. I swear some people would be moaning if we signed Rooney because we haven't bought Ronaldo and Messi as well. Keane is looking for someone to help him and is looking at a highly rated coach who hasn't had a big impact as a manager. How can that be a bad thing? Highly rated coach - good thing, name a team who doesn't want them. Knows and gets on well with Keane - good thing, they'll be working together rather than butting heads. Made mistakes as a manager - good for us, less likely to be poached by another club 6 months on, more stability. Maybe it's because I want to support the team rather than using every opportunity to criticise the manager, but I really can't see why getting Rodgers in would be bad for Town.

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Mark added 11:29 - May 1 I suppose the difficulty is that we can't give any sort of contract length to an Assistant Manager when the Manager's contract expires next summer and his position is under threat. The last thing we want is another contract to have to pay-up.
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slaughteredskipper added 11:47 - May 1 Benny - are you really a town fan? Do you really support the side? Because no matter the story you say the same old boring drivel! Keane is here. He's going nowhere. He is slowly building a good infrastructure, a backroom team of people of a decent calibre (has mourinho ever asked you to be part of his regime?) and a team that is becoming meaner in the amount of goals it concedes, now for the attacking options. You speak continually of people following with blind faith - but for gods sake let's have a little optimism. I'm looking forward to next season - How about you?

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nw10blue added 12:53 - May 1 PimsNumber1 I agree, good assistants dont mean good managers and vice versa. Kidd was number 2 to Sir Alex and was very highly thought of but didnt make that abilty as a manager. Rodgers was a coach under the special one and that says it all, despite his management failings we are bring him in as number two where he has proved himself and was thought of so highly. Hopefully he will compliment Roy in his qualities and bring the thing that has been so sadly missing this season. Plus overall Roy gets on with him and that cant be said for a lot of people

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stinkiusminkius added 13:30 - May 1 Well, 2 ways of looking at it. An unsuccessful spell at Reading, who had a significant improvement in form after he left doesn't bode well. But, lesser known failed managers often make good asst managers so I shall withhold judgement for now. It should be a case of trusting our managers judgement, but as his tenure so far is littered with poor judgement it is difficult to maintain the optimism.

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jas0999 added 19:21 - May 1 A very good Assistant manager. People need to understand tha backroom staff wages will not impact on players wages. So stupid comments about needing a striker first are unhelpful. Bennyblue yet again post a pointless comment. I repeat my previous opinion. I think this poster needs to support a new club fr his own sake. ITFC are causing him too much pain. Not good to see. Anyone who is 100% negative needs to surely move on for their own sake?

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bennyblue added 23:59 - May 1 i disagree
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