Report claims Celtic have opened talks with Roy Keane; DoF appointment also close

By David Walton

March 25, 2021

A report from Football Insider has claimed that Celtic have opened talks with Roy Keane about becoming the new Parkhead boss.

The Scottish Sun reported earlier this month that Keane was interested in the job. That was despite his last managerial gig ending over a decade ago with Ipswich Town.

Football Insider claims that Celtic sources have spoken to them and stated that they are ready to offer Keane the post. And another appointment could follow swiftly.

The website believes the Hoops are closing on appointing Fergal Harkin as the new Director of Football. The report states that Celtic want to bring Harkin in along with a new chief scout and a team of analysts below him.

As of yet, Celtic have kept their lips sealed on the managerial hunt. Dermot Desmond was asked several questions about it in an in-house interview with the club’s media team. However, he failed to reveal any information of note or even provide an update on the club’s progress.

Celtic appointing Roy Keane wouldn’t go down well considering the alternative candidates

The rumour mill is fairly cranking up, and it can’t be stressed enough that this rumour about Keane hasn’t been confirmed by the club.

However, what is clear for all to see is the frustration fans would have if Keane was appointed. Despite being an entertaining Sky Sports pundit, there are major question marks over how his no-nonsense attitude would work in a modern-day changing room.

Keane has only worked in assistant manager spells over the last decade. He’s taken up roles with the likes of Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest respectively. But you have to go back to the 2007/08 season for the last time Keane made a proper impact as a football manager with Sunderland.

Roy Keane (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Considering some of the other names that have been bandied about, Keane would be a monumental letdown now. Jesse Marsch, Eddie Howe, and Rafa Benitez have all been discussed at length by the Celtic support. To then plump for Keane? It would be difficult to see both the logic or the ambition.

We have far too much to lose in appointing the Irish great. Yes, he would bring a circus with him and increased levels of interest from down south in the Scottish game. But we need efficiency next year, not a side-show.

We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it’s clear this is one the Celtic support would be dead against.

In other news, Martin O’Neill gets it right as he dismisses the gap between Celtic and their rivals.