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

ThatMuhrenCross added 14:30 - Jun 7 ITFC1981: - I don't like Socialism either.
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 14:34 - Jun 7 What a load of tabloid tosh!! They really should find something believable to write about. I'm sure all Ipswich fans would be thrilled if Cotterill took over... wouldn't we?! If a decision were made to relieve Keane of his duties at this stage of "pre-season," it would be nothing short of disgraceful. That's why I think it's highly unlikely.
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Monkey_Blue added 15:54 - Jun 7 The timing would be strange, but disgraceful? we've signed no players as yet, pre season hasn't started... I think all fans would be delighted if mogga was made manager, not certain cotterill would be a universally welcomed.
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StowTractorBoy added 16:53 - Jun 7 I hope this is a load of tosh and that Mowbray is not in the frame. He had one good season at West Brom then bore the pants off the Celtic fans. He also bored us in the few games he had in charge at PR. Great player for us but not a great manager. The Magilton backer earlier - please take into account the long contracts with extortionate earnings that he gave to the likes of Counago, Garvan, Quinn, Lisbie etc. No wonder they do not want to leave. Its not just 5 million quid he spent you can add another 5 million and we are still paying the penalty for Magiltons mess. I am not reflectiing I am a great Keane man but at least give him until Christmas - a new Manager and we start all over again and another season of consolidation..

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Monkey_Blue added 17:08 - Jun 7 Well then add the wages on to keanes signings as well, I suspect priskin, martin, leadbitter, edwards etc are all at the top of the wages scale, on more than the likes of quinn and lisbie. why add wages to magiltons spending but not keanes? On that basis keane has spent far far more, 8m in fees, plus huge wages and we are worse.Plus Garvan and pablo were attracting speculation of prem clubs interested at the time, nobody complained they were given new contracts...They also both performed consistently better until roy got to the club. Also mowbray only took charge for three games at town, yet you judge him as a failure, yet you think keane needs 18 months to be judged? As for boring the pants off fans, I assume you've seen us under keane? Keane is not a great manager either. I wasn't backing magilton, simply pointing Jim was better in terms of results and transfer spending so evans is going to question roy when he's had significantly more money than jim and results are significantly worse. The only incoming money from roy is the 150k we got for rhodes which was an awful mistake. I hope if keane stays he gets it right, but when you've had such a shocking 12 months at a club, you deserve the stick and speculation about your position.

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PeekFreans added 17:45 - Jun 7 I wish I could get paid for creating 'news'
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Suffolk_n_Good added 18:00 - Jun 7 This is surely rubbish as others have said, but, what concerns me more is the effect these ridiculas rumours will have on potential players moving to PR, will they look at the constant rumours about Keanes sacking & think best not move there with such uncertainty over who will be my manager...... Clegg & Evans need to quash these rumours again! & fast!!
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jas0999 added 18:24 - Jun 7 Regardless of whether you are a pro or anti Roy supporter - I am sure everyone will agree that sacking Roy now would be a very poor decision. If ME were to sack him then the end of the season would have been the right time, not now when supposedly targets have been identified etc. However this is of course just tabloid reporting. For argument sake however, if Roy were sacked then I would simply despair if Cotterill was the replacement. Also, despite getting WBA promoted - after inheriting an excellent squad - Mogga has hardly set the world alight. For me the ONLY person I would sack Roy for is Curbishley.

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Guthrum added 19:15 - Jun 7 r.e.: what nw10blue said. Cotterill was, and is still, very much loved in Cheltenham for his achievements with the club - I live near there and know a lot of (the other) Town fans. Didn't do too badly at Burnley and Notts County. However, probably his best achievements have been in the (then) 3rd Division and League 2. Wouldn't want to replace Keane with Cotterill just yet.

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Lightningboy added 19:16 - Jun 7 No smoke without fire? What worries me is that the season finished 6 weeks ago and there's still no new signings...people either just don't seem to want to play for Keane OR he doesn't know how to communicate with other managers...would you like to play for him?..I bloody wouldn't. This situation is seriously damaging our plans..it's all about money as far as Keane's concerned because he's totally incapable of getting the best out of what he's got at his disposal..."this ain't working,let me throw another £8m at some other players." Mowbray & Cotterill aren't the answer.. Could you imagine what Burley could do with this squad/£8m (ok,sereni was an expensive buy but he was a quality keeper)....for me it has to be George or Curbs.

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SurreyITFC added 19:38 - Jun 7 Rumours Rumours & Rumours! The Mirror Newspaper is FUll of SH.T!!!! When Magilton got the job he said he would get us promoted within 3 years - Answer - He Failed! Keano has had one year in the job and whilst last season was frustrating to say the least we have got to give him time. He has said he is fully aware that the same cannot happen next season so lets give him the benefit of doubt and back him FULLY! He got Sunderland up in his first season and kept them in the Premier League so he cannot be that bad. I for one can certainly see what he is attempting to acheive at the club, and his hard work and passion for the job & football in general will drive him on sucess with us. We have no divine right to get promoted but I certainly beleive he will have in the mix come May 2011 & it is also down to players to make it happen. So Let's STOP getting on his back and instead support him fully! COYB & Keano

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stinkiusminkius added 20:12 - Jun 7 I've never opened a link to a story so fast. Only to realise that there's unfortunately nothing in it. It would be good though, before any more damage is done. Would d wright still be available for any replacement?
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ShefTractor added 20:48 - Jun 7 Haha I love that a tabloid paper's story is confirmed as rubbish by a bloke who met Mogga at Seaworld. That is classic Ipswich. I would love to have Mogga as manager, but at the same time I am definitely not a 'Keane out' person - he was given a 2 year contract for a reason!
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Manic_Blue added 21:30 - Jun 7 So we're bidding £4m for the someone the manager has wanted since he moved here, and for whom the manager would be the main reason to move here, while planning to sack that manager. Obviously, that makes perfect sense! I'm amazed we've gone over 60 posts with so few putting two and two together. If you're about to sack someone, you don't give them £4m to spend on a new striker. Actually, forget what I said about being amazed, I'm not. I wish I was, but nothing surprises me about some so-called supporters on here.

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reallygoodname added 22:19 - Jun 7 we treat keane mean to keep him clean, whillst some of what i have seen has been quite obscene, i do play chess but i dont have a hairy chest, for thats for me and you know the rest!
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generalpublic added 23:57 - Jun 7 the removal of roy will bring joy before the club he destroy
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Yallop added 08:57 - Jun 8 Mowbray built the worst Celtic side in 20 years. No thanks. Keano there's only one Keano
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:23 - Jun 8 TactorRoy it will be interesting to see how they get the Spitfire back ,wont be on Shuttle as they have retired that ,perhaps they wont bother.Sometimes i wonder if its even true , could be just paper talk !. now where were we, oh yes Roy...
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BlooooCD added 15:28 - Jun 8 Keano is going nowhere, not yet anyway... He will be given some time next term to get the results promised and he has been given money to get new players in.. His contrcat is for a small fortune and I don't think the town will write this off just yet.. I'm convinced Keano is a winner and can do the business for us - stay faithful for now! Come on Keano!
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