Roy Keane’s future as Town manager is once again in doubt, according to a tabloid newspaper report this morning. Former Blues coach and skipper Tony Mowbray and ex-Notts County, Burnley and Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill are said to be in the running to replace the Irishman.

Speculation regarding Keane’s position has quietened down in recent months since chief executive Simon Clegg dismissed widespread suggestions that his sacking was imminent back in March. However, Town are now claimed to have made discreet enquiries regarding Mowbray and Cotterill’s interest in taking over at Portman Road.

Cotterill recently left his job as manager of Notts County, having helped them into League One after taking over at Meadow Lane in February, and has also been linked with the vacant manager’s role at Portsmouth.

Mowbray was sacked by Celtic in March after an unsuccessful season at Parkhead and is understood to have turned down one or two management jobs since then.

Keane’s sacking now, as opposed to at the end of the season or once Town’s Championship survival was assured, would be a huge surprise with the Blues already well into their preparations for 2010/11. It seems unlikely that a £3.75 million bid would have been made to Cardiff for Michael Chopra if a change of manager was on the cards.

TWTD Message Board rumours over the weekend claimed that Mowbray had spent time at Portman Road last week, which may be where some of the story originated [Edit: According to one of the comments added to this story, see below, the ex-Blues skipper was spotted in Florida last week].

Meanwhile, Town target Marton Fulop has admitted that he’ll probably leave Sunderland during the close season: "I've a two-year contract with Sunderland but it's more than likely that I'll leave Sunderland this summer.

"I'm open to any possibilities, even those coming from out of England. I think my future will be decided after the World Cup ."

In addition to the Blues, Hungarian international keeper Fulop is said to be interesting West Brom and Italian side Udinese.

Sunderland are expected to complete the signing of Belgian U21 international Simon Mignolet, which would probably see Fulop relegated to third choice, or perhaps even fourth behind Northern Irish youngster Trevor Carson, in the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.

Photo: Action Images

gtd added 01:35 - Jun 7 Here we go again...
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ThatMuhrenCross added 02:55 - Jun 7 Reading nothing into this. Its from a story by the Daily Mirror which is a truly terrible communist paper which I lost all respect for in the months building up to the election. Clearly a lie. Like most things they publish.
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Marcus added 04:29 - Jun 7 It's in the job description of tabloids to publish every tiny rumour just in case one of them comes true and they can then claim you heard it first with them. I don't have much respect for the Mirror but there are worse offenders out there.
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HighSeasBlue added 05:00 - Jun 7 Indeed this seems to be more media speculation. Surely Town would have done the fire/hire thing a lot sooner than three weeks before everyone is back for pre season? I think we all know that Keane has until about Nov and then if we are underperforming then there will be all change.
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multipulemicky added 05:51 - Jun 7 yawn!!!
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mickeyjb added 06:32 - Jun 7 Looks like they had a quick trawl through the fanzine sites and and got their "def info" from uncle bob's, mates, milkman's cousins, best mate!
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itfc1981 added 06:58 - Jun 7 that muhren cross, perhaps the Völkischer Beobachter is better suited to your tastes!
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SitfcB added 06:58 - Jun 7 Yes, Mogga and Cotterill may have been spotted at P.R..... For the assistant managers job!
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DMFHI added 07:00 - Jun 7 Can't believe this is true - but personally I'd take Mowbray over Keane anytime day of the week and twice on Saturdays.
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rubberblood added 07:28 - Jun 7 A lot of players do not and will not play under keane. Mobray in now!
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HampshireBlue added 07:45 - Jun 7 Keano!
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MarstonBlue added 07:48 - Jun 7 Sounds like rubbish to me. However, If it turns out to be true, whether you believe Keane is the right man for the job or not, it calls into question how Evans & Clegg are running the club. If they wanted to make this change it would have happened a few weeks ago. If we have a poor start to the season I reckon Keane will walk out by Xmas anyway. Until then let's get behind him & the team.

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tractorgirls added 07:53 - Jun 7 make the change.... Oh, Tony Mowbray...
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andygizmo added 07:54 - Jun 7 Tony Mowbray did not spend time in Portman Road last week as he was in Florida with his family. On Monday 31st (Memorial day in USA) he was in Seaworld. How do I know? Because I stood next to him at the Dolphin feeding and had a quick chat about next year. He had been in PR the week before along with others from the team of 10 years ago. I asked if he had any wish to return and he said "Roy is the manager. He has a lot of work to do and Mr Evans will support him to do that" Political answer maybe. I asked if he was retruning to football and he said "I've had some conversations with a few clubs but I'm on holiday for the next 2 weeks and there is no rush". He had his little son on his shoulders whilst we talked about the Copdock hotel where he used to stay when he played here. More speculation by papers?

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bedsitfc added 08:13 - Jun 7 rubberblood - a lot of players will be attracted to the club because keane is the manager, chopra for one and any player that is willing to work hard to make their career a success. if ME was going to change manager it would of happened by now, clegg said last week keane targets are still unchanged which means they are still listening to him about who he wants in his team.

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BenITFCMAD added 08:25 - Jun 7 I agree with the comment above, I went to the suffolk show last week and listened to Cleggs interview and for one moment it didnt sound like Keane was going to get the sack. Another thing is the hope of getting Chopra will be out of the window as Keane will be the main factor of him coming here anyway.
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maimeetang added 08:29 - Jun 7 Mogga in!!!
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RetroBlue added 08:43 - Jun 7 I find this latest report a tad boring tbh. Dont the nationla press EVER give upon RK? This report is ONLY about filling space in the close seaosn whenthey have bigger all else two write about. RK is a ~"soft" target to them !
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corshamblue added 09:02 - Jun 7 Paper Talk, easy column inches to fill. Load of tosh, not accurate, no research, just pure speculation from idiots with nothing better to write ahead of the World Cup. Simply shocking. I'm backing Keano.
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:18 - Jun 7 oh well at least its started the ''in /out'' bickering again for those who havnt given up the will to live and topped themselves.
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SMS added 09:25 - Jun 7 Keano!
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mripswichtown added 09:31 - Jun 7 There is no truth behind this as there wasnt before! the tabloids have nothing better to do and make un-true stories up. Keano!
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Jimmy86 added 09:31 - Jun 7 I can only see this as newspaper talk and lazy journalism because if the club were gonna sack keane they would have done so after the last game of the season, which lets be honest was complete rubbish !!! the fact that they have recently upped their offer for chopra would suggest Keane isn't going anywhere soon. Keane is probably the biggest factor in any deal that could be done with chopra so if they sack him u can pretty much cancel that 1 out

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dobbie73 added 10:01 - Jun 7 Keano in! Tabloids out!
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Bluetone added 10:16 - Jun 7 Probably just paper talk, hope it's true though.
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