PACKIE BONNER SAYS he thinks the opportunity to possibly manage Celtic has come a year too soon for Roy Keane.
But the former Celtic and Ireland goalkeeper admits he’d take the job himself if he was in the Corkman’s shoes.
“I’m not surprised that they’re speaking to him and I’m sure Roy’s got a good relationship with Dermot Desmond who’ll call the shots probably in this one,” Bonner told RTÉ Radio One this morning.
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“But he’s in there with different people like Malky Mackay, I think David Moyes was mentioned and Owen Coyle and I’m sure Mick McCarthy might be mentioned on that list as an ex-Celtic player.
“I think it’s a stepping stone for Roy to become the main man again as a manager but what a great opportunity for him with the Irish team. And we all felt that when he went in there, that it’s a learning process to be in under someone like Martin O’Neill. And looking at the way Martin manages, that’s his forte. And maybe that’s somewhere where Roy… you know he’s a young man coming out of football going into management and you have to have a transition.
“He did quite well at Sunderland, failed a little bit in the other jobs and it’s a learning process. It’s a pity if he does move, he hasn’t had that much time.
He continued: “I think it’s a year too early for him but in saying that, if the job comes up at Celtic, I don’t think he could knock it back. Especially if you’re No 2; if you were in the job as a No 1 then you might have a doubt.”
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Bonner was a Parkhead favourite in his playing days of course. Does he think Keane is the right man to succeed Neil Lennon?
“I think Roy has got attributes,” he says. “People talk about Celtic being an easy job — by the way, it’s not an easy job because you’ve got to win every match. And if you’re in the Champions League, you’ve got to qualify for the Champions League. You have to get through three qualifying rounds. The last few years the draw has been very favourable to them but this time around it might not be the case.
Packie Bonner: I'd take Celtic job if I was Roy Keane
PACKIE BONNER SAYS he thinks the opportunity to possibly manage Celtic has come a year too soon for Roy Keane.
But the former Celtic and Ireland goalkeeper admits he’d take the job himself if he was in the Corkman’s shoes.
“I’m not surprised that they’re speaking to him and I’m sure Roy’s got a good relationship with Dermot Desmond who’ll call the shots probably in this one,” Bonner told RTÉ Radio One this morning.
“But he’s in there with different people like Malky Mackay, I think David Moyes was mentioned and Owen Coyle and I’m sure Mick McCarthy might be mentioned on that list as an ex-Celtic player.
“I think it’s a stepping stone for Roy to become the main man again as a manager but what a great opportunity for him with the Irish team. And we all felt that when he went in there, that it’s a learning process to be in under someone like Martin O’Neill. And looking at the way Martin manages, that’s his forte. And maybe that’s somewhere where Roy… you know he’s a young man coming out of football going into management and you have to have a transition.
“He did quite well at Sunderland, failed a little bit in the other jobs and it’s a learning process. It’s a pity if he does move, he hasn’t had that much time.
He continued: “I think it’s a year too early for him but in saying that, if the job comes up at Celtic, I don’t think he could knock it back. Especially if you’re No 2; if you were in the job as a No 1 then you might have a doubt.”
Bonner was a Parkhead favourite in his playing days of course. Does he think Keane is the right man to succeed Neil Lennon?
“I think Roy has got attributes,” he says. “People talk about Celtic being an easy job — by the way, it’s not an easy job because you’ve got to win every match. And if you’re in the Champions League, you’ve got to qualify for the Champions League. You have to get through three qualifying rounds. The last few years the draw has been very favourable to them but this time around it might not be the case.
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Keano Packie Bonnar Roy Keane Celtic Ireland Republic