Keane now tipped for Rovers job

Roy Keane’s decision to turn down the opportunity to manage in Turkey has intensified speculation that his next managerial role could be with Blackburn Rovers.

Turkish Super Lig side Kasimpasa haven’t officially confirmed that Keane has declined their €1.7 million package but club officials briefed local journalists to that effect yesterday, citing the personal upheaval a move to Istanbul would have entailed for his family as the main reason the Corkman had opted to withdraw his interest.

And last night well-placed sources in England confirmed the news, while remaining tight-lipped about Keane’s next move.

Kasimpasa had jumped the gun earlier in the week by announcing Keane as their new manager but that was only following preliminary talks with his advisors and before he had actually arrived in Istanbul to inspect the club’s facilities and met with officials.

Once back home in England, Keane weighed up the ramifications of the move and decided it wasn’t to be and that decision now clears the way for talks between him and Blackburn about the vacant managerial post at Ewood Park following the resignation of Steve Kean.

Having overseen a scoreless draw with Nottingham Forest, caretaker manager Eric Black remains in charge of the team for Saturday’s game against Wolves. Along with Tim Sherwood, Alan Shearer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Keane and a number of others, Black is one of those believed to be under consideration by Blackburn’s owners as the team’s next manager at a time of considerable crisis for the club.

Attendances have plummeted this season following Rovers’ relegation from the Premier League and Black has called on the fans to rally to the team.

“We need them every week,” he said. “I’ve been in football long enough to know that the supporters are the lifeblood of the club. Without supporters, things don’t function. So we need them back on side, we need them to roar the boys on and we need them to intimidate opponents.”

On the possibility of his becoming the new permanent manager, Black said: “It’s about Saturday and as far as I know that’s all I’m doing... I really haven’t thought about that (getting the job full-time). I just want to focus on getting a result.”