O'Neill - Keane confirmation expected on Monday

There are no more barriers to clear, just i's to be dotted and t's crossed before Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane will be unveiled as the new Republic of Ireland management team.

 

It is expected that the confirmation will come from the Football Association of Ireland's communications department sometime on Monday.

 

O'Neill, the front-runner since Giovanni Trapattoni's departure following the 1-0 defeat to Austria in September, is then expected to be unveiled at a media conference in Dublin on Friday. The former Sunderland boss met with the FAI's headhunters, Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter on two occasions and had a lengthy discussion on Friday with John Delaney, the FAI's Chief Executive in England late in the week.

 

O'Neill has been out of work since he was sacked by Sunderland in March and while the Derryman had expressed interest in a return to club management, he will now be installed as the next Ireland boss in the coming days.

 

Ironically, both Fulham and Norwich - two clubs whose managers, Martin Jol and Chris Hughton, are under intense increasing pressure - suffered defeats today in the Premier League and O'Neill has been linked to both, as well as Crystal Palace, following Ian Holloway's recent departure.

 



O'Neill has considered the Ireland post since being spoken to in the early days of the selection process by Houghton and Dokter. Having initially been reluctant to confirm a serious interest, O'Neill began to get to work in preparation for the role.

 

When he met Delaney this week, he relayed the news of a proposed number 2 that has shocked the football world: Roy Keane.

 

The controversial former Ireland captain had been linked to the post himself having expressed a desire to return to management. Keane has strong supporters on the FAI Board of Control, but there were also those who had serious reservations about his candidacy, given his fractious history with the Association.

 



Delaney had indicated in the moments after Trapattoni's departure that Keane's 'previous' would not be a stumbling block but Abbotstown's leading official preferred O'Neill. However, this intriguing partnership is a compromise that will both excite and enthral ahead of their first game in charge, the November 15 friendly against Latvia in Dublin.

 

This is a high-profile partnership and an expensive one at that. With the businessman Denis O'Brien agreeing to again part-fund the salary - believed to be in the same ballpark as the previous regime's - the Association's finance will not be put under strain by the appointment. Keane's managerial career has been far from sparkling, but his inclusion on this ticket will surely give an injection of interest in much-needed ticket sales for the upcoming home friendly.

 

Crowds have plummeted, but in the impending appointment, the Association will, at least, be guaranteed a box-office duo to put bums upon previously unoccupied seats in the Aviva Stadium. O'Neill held talks with Keane and the Cork native confirmed that he will work alongside a fellow student of Brian Clough's.

 

It is also a sure sign that Keane has designs himself on resting upon the throne in due course. Both O'Neill and Keane are set to appear on ITV as analysts for Tuesday's Champions League tie between Real Sociedad and Manchester United.

 

With the rumour mill in full swing since late yesterday, both parties are keen to have an announcement made prior to that engagement. It is now expected that the deal will be confirmed on Monday once the finer points of the management team has been finalised with a press conference probable on Friday.

 

 

    About Chris McNulty

    Chris McNulty is one of extratime's Northwest correspondents, covering Finn Harps and Derry City. Has worked as a sports writer with the Donegal News since 2007. View Full Profile