Roy’s still not Keane on FAI’s style

ROY KEANE might have to forego the dream of managing Ireland — if the FAI doesn’t pull its socks up a lot further.

The Manchester United captain indicated yesterday that he still has reservations about the way the body runs Irish soccer, despite his approval of the way current incumbent Brian Kerr does business.

“I could not possibly see myself at this moment working for the FAI,” he told a charity gathering in Dublin, although he added: “But never say never.”

He won’t be looking at a career change soon, however, as he sidelined recent statements that he would retire from club football in 18 months time, quipping that he had been told since by United manager Alex Ferguson that Ferguson would decide when he left the game.

Keane was in Dublin to publicise the upcoming Shades Week fundraiser for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, of which he has been the number one celebrity supporter for the last three years.

Relaxed and smiling, the soccer star embarked on a good-humoured walkabout in the grounds of the Radisson Hotel, meeting guide dogs and their owners, puppies and their trainers and fans and their autograph books.

He posed repeatedly for photographs, taking a particular shine to an eight-week old bundle of fur called Woody and veteran guide dog, Emmet, who demonstrated his own fancy footwork by leading the blindfolded player on a guided walk.

The importance of Keane’s own contribution was acknowledged by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who slipped in briefly to present him with a bronze sculpture of a man and dog in recognition of his outstanding work for the Guide Dogs.

Afterwards Keane transferred all the praise to the organisation and its hard-working volunteers, telling a press conference: “I think it’s a brilliant, brilliant cause. I’ve been down to the training centre (in Cork) and the work they do there is absolutely fantastic.

“I just wish I had more time to give to it but unfortunately I don’t.”

Being strapped for time was also the excuse he gave for not making it to the theatre to see I, Keano, the comedic song and dance version of the song and dance that was Saipan during World Cup 2002.

He did, however, say he might be tempted to join the audience if the show was to come to Manchester. “If they gave me a free ticket,” he added.

Shades Week runs from May 2-7 when Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind will be selling miniature shades badges at €2 each with a fundraising target of €350,000.

It costs €2.5 million a year to run the Guide Dogs services but just 15% of that comes from the Government with the rest reliant on public donations.