Roy Keane decision made by Sunderland as Man Utd icon waits for new manager role | Football

Roy Keane is no longer under consideration for the vacant Sunderland manager’s job, according to reports. The Manchester United icon has been heavily linked with a return to his former club but it appears that his decade-long search for a top job will continue.

Keane has not managed a club since leaving Ipswich Town in 2011 but was once a highly-rated young coach during a spell with Sunderland.

He guided the Black Cats to promotion from the Championship in May 2007 after taking over earlier in the campaign when the Wearside outfit were in the relegation places.

The 50-year-old kept Sunderland up in their maiden term back in the Premier League and remained at the Stadium of Light until late 2008 when he was dismissed.

Keane has been hotly tipped to return to Sunderland after over 10 years without a No 1 job. Sunderland sacked Lee Johnson following a dismal 6-0 thrashing by Bolton 13 days ago and have conducted a thorough hiring process in the following fortnight.

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But according to The Athletic, the former midfielder will not be considered for the job.

Keane is understood to have held at least two interviews with the Sunderland hierarchy but has dropped out of contention. Grant McCann – recently dismissed by Hull – Alex Neil and former Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi remain the top three candidates.

The League One club will want to appoint a new head coach soon after seeing their form spiral in recent weeks.

Following the defeat by Bolton, there have been successive 2-1 reverses against Doncaster and Cheltenham.

Sunderland remain in the League One play-off places but those outside the top six are hot on their heels.

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“I spoke to a Championship club about three months ago. It was very casual, it was at my house, a chat with the chairman.

“And to be fair, he was straight up, he went, ‘Listen, we just want somebody who can come in and win football matches’.

“That was fine with me, I didn’t have to break down styles of play. And I think if you’re winning matches, people don’t then question, ‘What’s your style of play?’

“You just bounce into the next match, don’t you? And we did it as players.”

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