Fergie again urges Keane not to don green
Ferguson was quoted over the weekend as encouraging his club captain to follow the examples of Alan Shearer and Dennis Bergkamp in opting out of international football.
A source close to the United camp yesterday confirmed that Ferguson has since urged Keane not to be persuaded to return to help Ireland in the current European Championship.
Ireland play Scotland at Hampden Park, Glasgow, next Wednesday (8pm ko) in a challenge match.
Kerr is expected to travel to Manchester today or tomorrow to meet with Keane.
Meanwhile, the FAI yesterday moved to appoint a facilitator to solve the row over the payment of a World Cup bonus to former manager Mick McCarthy.
The row revolved around the circumstances by which it was agreed to pay McCarthy a bonus of €160,000 for successfully leading Ireland into the second round of the final tournament in Japan and Korea last June.
Liam Gaskin, agent to McCarthy, was incensed at suggestions that he had used the payment of a bonus as a pre-condition to the manager signing a new contract with the FAI.
He sought an apology from the Association.
This in turn led to the suggestion that one officer of the FAI had acted independently and had offered McCarthy a bonus payment.
The issue was discussed at a special board meeting in Dublin on January 24.
That meeting was adjourned to allow the officer time to deal with the issue and it was due to re-convene today.
The officers of the FAI yesterday sought the co-operation of barrister
J O'Donnell to inquire into the circumstances. His appointment should be ratified at the board's regular meeting in Dublin tomorrow.
The FAI have three meetings planned for tomorrow a board of management meeting; an EGM to deal with rules, and a meeting of the full FAI Council.
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