TV BOSSES HOPE Roy Keane will be able to double-job and carry on his work as a football pundit.
Keane’s first appearance as Ireland assistant came on Tuesday night alongside manager Martin O’Neill on ITV’s Champions League coverage.
The two briefly discussed their appointment with Adrian Chiles and Lee Dixon ahead of Manchester United’s 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad.
Keane, who once famously said that he would rather go to the dentist than do media work, has become a firm favourite for his no-nonsense style since joining the punditry panel two years ago.
The job has kept him in the public eye since he was sacked as Ipswich manager in 2011.
Now ITV hope to convince him to stay on provided he is allowed to juggle the roles under the terms of his FAI deal.
“We’re hoping Roy will continue his pundit role going forward,” a spokesperson for the station told TheScore.ie.
Although O’Neill appeared this week, the spokesperson confirmed that he “is not a regular ITV pundit.”
If Keane continues, his TV commitments are unlikely to stretch beyond two evenings a month during the football season.
The job would allow him to keep a close eye on the form of some of Europe’s top stars which could be handy when scouting future international opponents.
But it’s unlikely to be much use when it comes to judging Ireland’s own talent.
As it stands Celtic striker Anthony Stokes, who played under Keane at Sunderland, is the only player to have appeared in the Champions League group stages this season.
It’s great to have him back involved with Ireland squad and with O’neil as the main man we got a great pair of football. #COYBIG
*pair of football men* :-)
Unbelievable how the Brit Media can force a Cork man and especially a Derry man to wear the blood stained poppy! Guess Everyone has a price!
John if you don’t understand the meaning of the poppy then please either educate yourself or shut up , the one thing that bothers me about it is why I the past few years has this become such an issue ,football clubs wearing them tv personality wearing for weeks o end before there even on general sale
John
You forgot to mention SKY Sports “forcing” their US presenters to wear the poppy while covering American football, baseball & basketball games.
Unlike you…. Young men, boys paid the price…. That you can speak openly and not be put against a wall and shot for your opinions…..
Lads in fairness to him, I no worlds of people who wouldn’t wear the poppy if asked to when working in the uk! The answer I got was “it symblifies Britain and what they did”! don’t ask me, I’m only saying what was said!
They died off your freedom…least we forget
For
Stop watching Brit TV and Brit sports so ur eyes won’t be offended.
W.j.d
Actually following the 1916 Easter Rising Irish men were “put against a wall and shot” as they dared to speak openly, express their opinions and follow up those words with actions. And those shots were fired by other Irishmen.
However the Irish soldiers fighting in the Great War were to a man volunteers and died in bigger numbers as a proportion than other “British” troops. The Irish men who died as soldiers in WW2 were volunteers also, some having “disserted” from the Irish Army to fight for freedom.
Even today an Irish regiment still exists in the British army and like their forefathers these soldiers to a man are volunteers.
Irishoversea
Presenters on British TV wearing the poppy as a mark of respect for their fallen British troops does not affend me. Actually showing marks of respects is something that should be encouraged.
However I have a problem with people highjacking marks of respects for scoring cheap shots.
Well said Carcu
Stupid comment John..
i agree with john completely you west brit sheeple,now tell me how i dont understand the meaning of the poppy or how im uneducated because i disagree with a cretin like you ???
fight for freedom ???????? ahhahahahahahaha who’s freedom and from whom ???? you are a completel tool,this should be good
Only one problem…. Nobody except a handful were listening to their opinions, hence but a few hundred took part… Plus, their individual options varied big time…. Like most conflicts, the small man, without the opinion, gets swallowed up….
Nee naw nee naw nee naw…….”Symblifies”!??!…….oh dear….you’re nicked!
Unraaael reply Fran :)
Yaaaawwwwnnnnn.arguing over this shite again
I don’t think anyone could “force” roy somehow?
Not saying that he’s a bad pundit but his focus should be on the Ireland team from now on. If he can transfer the same passion and drive for what he is renowned for on to the Ireland players It would be great.
This was the same guy who didn’t play because he couldn’t sit in first class lol
A true sportsman
All we needed was Joe Brolly as a second assistant and we would have undoubtedly the most fantastic management team ever put together for the Irish and UK media. (Oh and Cloughie if he were still with us,bless his big red nose,may it RIP)
Will never forgive him for his comments about the fans after the Spanish game in Gdansk…
Same here how dare he say the fans deserve better and that we should go there to win instead of making up the numbers…
Ok, don’t. Then again you were probably one of the ones he was referring to. Keane-a legend.
I believe that when the chips are down that’s when support is most needed. We were outclassed by arguably one of the best teams in history and it was a privilege to be there.
I guess you’re the kind of “fan” that only backs their team when they’re winning. What’s that expression, fair weather………
Try telling many nationalist people in the part of Ireland Britain held on to .
How we should be thankful for not murdering more of us. Every year we
find out how wonderful a job they did for the loyalists.
Its a win-win situation for Keane really… A big fat contract from the FAI while still being able to cover the Champions League matches and major international tournaments such as the Euros and World Cup…Ooopps!
The ROI are very lucky with Martin and Roy poppy wearers and with
O’Neil OBE .
By the way on Andrew Neil’s political show today he had six British
quests three wore poppies and three didn’t . I thought one of
MacCarthy ‘ s big faults for rebel boy Keane was that Mick wasn’t
Irish . Time as moved on .
09celts..
Still shiteing on about a flower I see.. I wonder why your warped republican delusions don’t extend to your obvious support of what is still a British soccer club, or is it because of the lack of grey matter between your ears that you can only pick the easy ones to fight?
I didn’t always agree with Keane and his antics over the years as I always thought he was a bit of a bluffer because of the false image he portrays of himself. I do respect the guy for what he has achieved but all this talk About the FAI , Delaney , rather go to the dentist than do media work really backs up how I felt about him. I’m confident he will do well with O Neill and best of luck to him in the future.
I didn’t know punditry was a word.