Given that he found himself featuring in yet another non-football story to hog the headlines in Ireland, Martin O’Neill was asked yesterday if, since becoming national manager, he has ever felt like he’s ended up in a soap opera.

Roy Keane, Martin O’Neill and other members of the Ireland football team’s management were involved in a road crash last night on the M50 motorway.

When Carlow-born John Keogh sits down at a packed Parkhead tomorrow night, he’ll know the circuitous journey taken by his son Richard has all been worth it.

For somebody who considers 24 not enough hours in the day, Roy Keane is willing to deliver the graft demanded of his new double-jobbing arrangement confirmed by Aston Villa yesterday.

Roy Keane, who turned up at Cork City’s match last night, is set to be appointed Aston Villa’s assistant manager next week after Ireland boss Martin O’Neill agreed to allow his sidekick job-share.

Republic of Ireland skipper John O’Shea is confident manager Martin O’Neill will more than make up for the loss of Roy Keane if he (Keane) lands the Celtic job.

Martin O’Neill yesterday refused to be drawn on speculation that he is set to run the rule over Spurs striker Harry Kane who, although an England U21 international, is still eligible to play for Ireland through his Galway-born father.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr does not believe Roy Keane will be the automatic choice to eventually succeed Martin O’Neill.

Although a deal had still not been signed off as of last night, the FAI are entirely happy that Martin O’Neill will be unveiled as the manager of the Republic of Ireland this week.

New Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has warned the players will have to fit in with his disciplined approach to training to avoid becoming “a team of anarchists”.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will assess Danny Rose’s frame of mind before deciding whether to throw him into the heat of a derby battle after his experiences in Serbia.

STEVEN FLETCHER ensured Martin O’Neill will commence work today with the most difficult and challenging task ahead of him in his career.

Arsenal have asked Aston Villa to keep them informed of Gareth Barry’s status.

Martin O’Neill has insisted it will “take time” to win back all the Aston Villa supporters disillusioned with recent events at the midlands club.

RANDY LERNER is expected to step up his bid to buy Aston Villa in the next 48 hours.

Randy Lerner is expected to step up his bid to buy Aston Villa in the next 48 hours.

Aston Villa have confirmed Martin O’Neill as their new manager.

Martin O’Neill is on the verge of becoming Aston Villa’s new manager.

Martin O’Neill is set to announce tomorrow whether he has decided to become Aston Villa’s new manager.

THE Football Association insist they will follow a conventional path to finding Sven-Goran Eriksson’s replacement and will appoint one full-time head coach of the England team.

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill has revealed that the pain of losing the title on the final day had almost paralysed their attempts to retain the Tennent’s Scottish Cup.

Celtic captain Jackie McNamara has described working under manager Martin O’Neil as the “highlight” of his career.

Celtic 1 Dundee Utd 0

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is today expected to announce he will leave the club after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final to care for his wife Geraldine, who is ill.

Celtic pair Jackie McNamara and Stilian Petrov have broken the silence surrounding the future of manager Martin O’Neill.

The future of Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was still uncertain today as the fall-out from the final Bank of Scotland Premier League games of the season continued.

MARTIN O’NEILL was keeping his counsel last night as his future with Celtic remained in the balance.

Martin O’Neill was keeping his counsel tonight as his future with Celtic remained in the balance.

Rangers 1 Celtic 2

Celtic tonight pulled off the coup of transfer deadline day by snapping up Newcastle outcast Craig Bellamy.

Celtic’s Irish international wonderkid Aiden McGeady says he has no regrets about not signing for Arsenal.

John Hartson’s agent Jonathan Barnett tonight denied he had held talks with Hertha Berlin over the possibility of signing the Celtic striker in the January transfer window.

Martin O’Neill today warned the Celtic supporters to expect the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions to lose more points this season than in the past.

CELTIC youngster Craig Beattie has staked his claim to be the successor to departed Parkhead legend Henrik Larsson.

YOUNG Celtic striker Craig Beattie believes he is the man to replace the legendary Henrik Larsson.

Young Celtic striker Craig Beattie believes he is the man to replace the legendary Henrik Larsson.

Celtic 2 Chelsea 4

Martin O’Neill revealed today he will not be flying out to the United States with his Celtic team – but would almost certainly be joining up with them later on the tour.

CELTIC skipper Paul Lambert has urged the club’s board to do everything in their power to keep the management team at Parkhead and give Martin O’Neill the cash to take them into the latter stages of the Champions League.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill must upgrade his coaching qualifications if he is a to avoid a future touchline ban from European competition.

Celtic star Neil Lennon has challenged his team-mates to break Morton’s 40-year Scottish league record on Sunday and then go through the Bank of Scotland Premier League unbeaten.

THE lasting impression of Celtic’s ultimately frustrated quest for a European title is not that they deserved to win, but one of surprise and admiration that they had progressed so far.