FORMER REPUBLIC OF Ireland captain Roy Keane has been linked with the vacant managerial post at Australian soccer side Melbourne Victory with speculation increasing that he is on the verge of a move Down Under.

Keane is understood to have attended a match between Sydney FC and Shanghai Shenhua in Australia last night in which he let slip his interest in the job, according to The Australian Daily Telegraph.

The paper adds that Keane was holidaying in Australia earlier this week when he was approached about the job with the Melbourne side.

The Australian A-League team have refused to deny the speculation, Reuters reports. A spokesperson told the Melbourne Herald: “We won’t be commenting on speculation regarding the coaching position. ’Suffice to say, we still have a long way to go in the process of appointing a coach.”

They sacked their previous coach Ernie Merrick last month and the appointment of Keane would be seen as a real coup.

The former Manchester United and Celtic midfielder has been out of work since being sacked by Ipswich in January. He was previously manager of Sunderland.

Keane’s wage demands are thought to be a potential stumbling block, according to EPSN, although the Australian lifestyle and the opportunity for a fresh start abroad could appeal to Keane.

It is not the first time Keane has been the subject of rumours since his Ipswich departure. In March he was linked with a takeover of Cambridge United.