Kerr’s date with destiny

FERGIE and Keano as the Irish management dream team? There’s probably a greater chance that the FAI will wind up with a double act of Pat Dolan and Roddy Collins.

Brian Kerr’s fate won’t be officially decided until Wednesday, but already the succession stakes are up and running. Bryan Robson, Bobby Robson (who refused to comment yesterday) and David O’Leary (who has already distanced himself from the job) have also been mentioned as runners and riders, but if Martin O’Neill felt he was in a position to make himself available, he would be the hot favourite.

But, as yet, it’s all speculation. Yesterday, sources in the FAI denied reports that Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane had been targeted for the job, and though their names will clearly feature - individually or together - in the final reckoning, it’s understood that no shortlist has yet been drawn up, and won’t be until Wednesday night’s Board of Management meeting at which it is widely assumed that Brian Kerr will not have his contract renewed.