Report claims Roy Keane now unlikely to become Celtic manager

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The Times has reported that Roy Keane is now unlikely to become the next Celtic manager.

The report states that sources in Dublin believed over the course of the weekend that the Man Utd legend was becoming increasingly out of the running.

It’s said that Dermot Desmond appears not to be as enamoured with the prospect of Keane as he was in recent years. The Times speculates that this could be down to details released in Keane’s autobiography about the talks he held with the Hoops back in 2014.

The report states that Keane likely won’t get the opportunity to turn down the job again. This will come as a relief to many Celtic supporters who want a more progressive appointment.

Keane’s record in management has been a rollercoaster one if you’re being generous. He managed to bag promotion with Sunderland and ensured Premier League survival for them. However, he would eventually be sacked due to poor performances before failing to ignite Ipswich back in 2011.

If Desmond isn’t keen on Keane; Celtic fans have nothing to worry about

Where Keane’s opportunity to become Celtic manager has come from in the past is Desmond’s admiration for him. That’s not surprising giving the majority shareholder’s Irish background.

However, you can’t see many others in the boardroom wanting Keane. Peter Lawwell would surely see no pros in going for him, whilst chairman Ian Bankier also almost certainly wouldn’t view him as the ideal candidate. As for incoming CEO Dominic McKay, surely the thought of appointing Keane would make his stomach churn.

If the Times is accurate and Desmond is less enthused about the prospect of Keane this time around, that’s a big boost. Especially with reports going around that the Irish icon actively wants the Celtic job [Scottish Sun].

This managerial hunt has already provided so many twists and turns. So much so that it wouldn’t surprise you if we do end up appointing Keane in the end. That’s just what Celtic can do to you.

But this wouldn’t be the popular appointment. Not when you have the likes of Jesse Marsch, Eddie Howe, and Rafa Benitez having been previously mentioned as contenders.

We’ll see what the coming weeks and months hold. But the Times’ report on Keane is certainly welcome.

In other news, some fans believe they’ve spotted Neil Lennon’s next job.