Roy Keane is interested in returning to the dugout (Photo: Sky Sports)
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has said that any reports linking him to the West Bromwich Albion job are ‘nonsense’.
He did however claim that he is still interested in going back into management at some stage in the future.
West Brom are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Steve Bruce on Monday after a disastrous eight months in charge, with the Baggies winning just one of their opening 13 games this season, which has left them 22nd in the Championship.
Keane, whose last management job was at Ipswich in 2011, was one of the favourites to take the reins at the Hawthorns, but when quizzed about this on Sky Sport’s Monday Night Football, the former United captain dismissed the possibility.
‘That’s bizarre. I do think the bookies play silly games with people,’ Keane said.
‘I think I was the favourite for a few jobs over the last year or two and it was all nonsense. Same for any speculation over the last 24-48 hours. Absolute rubbish.’
Aside from Ipswich, Keane has only ever taken charge of one other club, namely Sunderland, though he did have spells as assistant manager at Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Steve Bruce won just one game this season with West Brom (Photo: Getty)
While he is best-known as a pundit now, the 51-year-old also stated that he is interested in returning to the dugout but stressed it would have to be the right club under the right circumstances.
He added: ‘When I do a lot of the media stuff it can leave me unfulfilled. I still think I have something to offer as a manager.
‘That’s the bottom line, I still think I could do something with a club. I think I could help players and be a good manager.
Keane served as Martin O’Neil’s assistant at Nottingham Forest in 2019 (Photo: Getty)
‘That’s part of the bug you feel you can fix a club, and of course if you’re fixing a club you’re winning football matches and the feel good factor comes back.
‘But everyone who goes into a job thinks they can do that. That’s why it has to be the right job and the right time. You’ve also got to be careful what you wish for.
‘I’m not going to be quick to give up what I’m doing now because I have a good life and I enjoy what I’m doing, but sometimes I feel that I should have another go at it and that doesn’t go away.
‘Still at weekends when I go to matches I have that urge to go back into it and it’s hard to shake that off. But I might not get that opportunity again. If something happens great, but if not life goes on.’
As for West Brom, out of work, ex-Premier League managers including Sean Dyche, Chris Wilder and Scott Parker are among the favourites to take over.
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West Brom sacked Steve Bruce on Monday.
