Twitter reacts to O'Neill/Keane confirmation

FAI big cheese John Delaney this morning confirmed what we all knew already. Here's how Twitter responded.

And lo… verily it came to pass.

We got official confirmation this morning that Martin O'Neill is to be the new Irish soccer manager and Roy Keane will be his assistant.

It was 'something of a coup' (ahem) for the Denis O'Brien-owned Newstalk, where Delaney confirmed the news in person to Pat Kenny.

John Delaney in the @newstalkfm studio now #PKNT pic.twitter.com/3ZFm64zrBm

— Pat Kenny Newstalk (@PatKennyNT) November 5, 2013

The news spread quickly - from Roy's home turf on the north side of Cork…

… to further afield, in Saudi Arabia no less.

Love it! In Riyadh in posh hotel talking econ etc & dude in full Arab headgear comes up & asks quizzically "how will Roy deal with Martin?"

— David McWilliams (@davidmcw) November 5, 2013

Paddy Power were quick to offer odds on Keano's temper getting the better of him.

We make Roy Keane 10/1 to serve a touchline ban in first year of the job.

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) November 5, 2013

The usual wags were out in force…

I think this illustrates the dynamics of the Martin O' Neill/Roy Keane management team. pic.twitter.com/5gsTsj5E40

— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) November 4, 2013

(from yesterday, but funny enough to throw in here)

… and there was uncharacteristic wit from some quarters.

Despite calls for unity from some quarters…

North men, south men comrades all... Martin O'Neill - Roy Keane. #oneteaminireland #coybig #ireland

— One Team In Ireland (@1TeaminIreland) November 5, 2013

,,,there's no subject that will divide and polarise opinion more than that of Roy Keane.

Many rallied to back the Mayfield man...

We are delighted for our patron Roy Keane and wish him the best of luck. He is a loyal & dedicated patron to us. pic.twitter.com/MRrpH27g6e

— Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (@irishguidedogs) November 5, 2013

…while others were more circumspect.

Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane in Dublin this week. One more needed to make up perfect edition of Come Dine With Me.

— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) November 5, 2013

The FAI boss insisting that their volatile relationship in the past would not come between he and Roy working together.

Delaney: "I think there's too much made of it [the relationship between Keane and JD].. I'll put it another way, we've already shaken hands"

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) November 5, 2013

But as John Boy tried to brush off talk of Saipan, he displayed a less-than-perfect grasp of mathematics.

Saipan (2002) is 13 years ago, according to John Delaney.

— Eoin O'Callaghan (@EoinOCallaghan) November 5, 2013

Which did not go unnoticed. At all.

The guy inscribing the medals can't spell, the guy handling the money can't count. What can possibly go wrong with Roy Keane and the FAI?

— Dave Hannigan (@daveyhannigan) November 5, 2013

The next instalment in the #MONKEANE soap opera comes on Saturday, when the two will be officially unveiled at a press conference.

Get the popcorn in, it's going to be epic.