Rodgers linked to Keane assistant role

FORMER Reading and Watford boss Brendan Rodgers is amongst the candidates for the role of Roy Keane’s assistant manager at Ipswich Town.

Keane is looking for a deputy after a disappointing first full season at Portman Road. The Ipswich manager says he has a number of names in mind, with Rodgers understood to be very much a front runner: “I’ll be looking to bring in an assistant manager over the next few months and I’ve got one or two people in mind for that, so changes will be made in the backroom staff.”

Keane and Rodgers met while studying for their coaching badges with the Northern Irishman revealing that he has a lot of time for the Ipswich boss before his Reading side faced the Tractor Boys back in November: “We struck up a relationship when we did our UEFA Pro Licence together and that has carried on.

“I suppose both being Irishmen has something to do with it and I admire Roy greatly, he’s a really nice person.”

The 37-year-old left Reading by mutual consent soon after that game with the Royals languishing in the lower reaches of the division. The Carnlough-born boss had only taken over at the Madejski Stadium the previous summer after a year managing Watford.

Prior to that Rodgers had been a youth coach at Reading and Chelsea, where he ran Jose Mourinho’s reserves, his playing career having been cut short by injury at 20 while with the Royals, after a spell with Ballymena United.

Keane has released veteran Town coach Steve Foley to make room for his new addition, while he is yet to speak to Ian McParland regarding his position, the ex-Notts County boss having undergone a double hip operation earlier this week. Former Ipswich and Arsenal striker Chris Kiwomya keeps his job as U18 coach.

The Blues boss has handed a new two-year contract to 20-year-old Corkman Shane O’Connor, the former Liverpool trainee having broken into the side in the second half of the season. Left-back O’Connor was close to joining Rockmount before persuading Keane, his boyhood hero, to take a look at him last summer.

The Tractor Boys boss, who celebrated a year in the job last week, says O’Connor has been one of highlights in a below-par season: “There’s been frustration and disappointment, but I think there have been plusses. People like Shane O’Connor coming in.”

Keane has also offered a one-year contract extension to young Dubliner Ian McLoughlin, the keeper having made his debut for the Irish U19s earlier in the month.