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Stephen Ward with assistant manager Roy Keane after the draw with Italy. Donall Farmer/INPHO

Brace yourself, Roy Keane now linked with Aston Villa assistant manager role

The former Ireland midfielder’s lingering over the Celtic job has alerted a number of clubs to his possible availability.

THE PLAUDITS ARE still flying in for Roy Keane, following his decision to remove himself from Celtic’s search for a new manager. However, no sooner had a link with the Scottish champions been severed than Keane was reported to be in talks with Aston Villa.

The Premier League club is on the look-out for a strong number two to manager Paul Lambert. Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa were sacked late last season and Lambert installed a temporary backroom staff containing the likes of Gordon Cowan and Shay Given. Sky Sports reporting from Villa Park this morning, predicted Keane would be in place for Villa’s pre-season training in July.

Villa’s strategy to snare Keane revolves around a job share option. The club is reportedly open to the idea of the former Ireland midfielder combining his assistant manager role with the one he currently holds, under Martin O’Neill, at Ireland.

Keane may have rejected a tempting managerial role at Celtic but the fact that he held ‘informal talks’ with Dermot Desmond has alerted several clubs to the possibility of tempting the Cork native back to day-to-day coaching.

TheScore.ie contacted the FAI about the Aston Villa links this morning and is currently awaiting a response. Ireland fly out to America on Wednesday, ahead of their final two friendly matches, and Keane will travel with the side.

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Patrick McCarry
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