Kerr refuses to play ball over Keane return

IRISH soccer manager Brian Kerr was keeping his cards close to his chest yesterday following reports that Roy Keane was interested in making a return to international football.

Keane left the ball firmly in Kerr's court after stating that he had "unfinished business" in international football. But the team boss, who was out of the country yesterday, refused to be drawn on a possible return for the Manchester United star.

Keane, 32, who was in Dublin on Thursday to support the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity, gave the strongest hint yet that he might be prepared to pull on the green jersey if the circumstances were right.

"There is a part of me who believes I have unfinished business in international football but it is not as simple as Roy Keane saying he wants to come back that would be a matter for Brian Kerr."

One of Kerr's first acts on being appointed to the job 12 months ago was to travel to Manchester to invite Keane back after the World Cup fiasco in Saipan.

However, Keane refused to come out of retirement, citing medical advice over his troubled hip.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson also went public with a statement that made it clear he was not in favour of Keane playing for anybody else except United.

Kerr did not respond to enquiries yesterday on whether or not he might be interested in again opening discussions with Keane. His personal assistant said: "Brian will not be making any statement on the matter."

Officers of the FAI also declined to be drawn.

"It is a football matter," said a representative of the FAI. "It is not the policy of officers of the association to get involved in football matters, the team managers take care of that business."