IT WAS THE same old Roy Keane as Ireland trained in the Aviva Stadium this evening.
“He was a part of training and it seemed like he wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry,” Kevin Doyle said.
Keane was scheduled to speak to the media but after a day of plummeting odds and speculation linking him to the vacant Celtic job, Martin O’Neill appeared in his place.
The manager confirmed that the Bhoys’ majority shareholder Dermot Desmond contacted him this week and asked his permission to speak to Keane.
“I’m sure [Roy] wanted to have a chat because obviously a club like Celtic might not come around too often,” O’Neill said.
I would be really disappointed of course if Roy was to leave us.
Bookmakers immediately slashed the odds on the Corkman to a miniscule 1/8, despite a statement from the Glasgow giants to say that they are in discussions with “a number of excellent candidates.”
Doyle, who only flew into join the team today, admitted that it would be a blow to lose Keane so soon.
“I think it’s great having him around personally. You have a top manager and a top assistant manager and it’s just nice to listen to them tell you their own experience.
Roy has been a world-class player and to have him coaching you is nice.
“It gives you that extra bit of coverage for the Irish team and gives you that bit of buzz for supporters and fans who love seeing him involved and it’s the same with the players.
“Thankfully we have a manager who is very similar in that regard and he has his assistants who have been with him for a long time so if Roy takes another job, the setup is pretty strong to deal with that.
“But it would be nice to keep him here for the [Euro 2016] campaign from a personal point of view.”
