Kerr: Keane could be the man

Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr believes Roy Keane has strong credentials to become Giovanni Trapattoni’s successor.

Speaking ahead of the annual SARI Soccerfest in the Phoenix Park this Saturday and Sunday, Kerr said: “Roy knows international football well, as he was a brilliant, effective and achieving player. He also has the experience of a manager after going through Sunderland and Ipswich. He had some success at Sunderland and gained a lot of good experience with the ups and downs of Sunderland and then a tricky time of it at Ipswich, where it didn’t go well for him.

“It’s like you’re getting the player who goes into the management thing. He understands that you have to work with whoever is managing you, be it a chief executive or general secretary.

“I don’t know how Roy’s possible appointment would be held by the players, as you need the support. I heard Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne saying after the Austria defeat that everyone needs to be behind the team and that is right as well.”

Kerr, who as Ireland manager succeeded in bringing Keane back from international exile, acknowledged the controversial legacy of 2002.

“Even though it is 11 years, some of the football public are still upset by Saipan,” he said. “He didn’t play at the World Cup and many of those are still supporters of the team. But I think he is a very creditable candidate.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Stokes is hoping for a return to the green shirt now that Giovanni has moved on.

The Celtic striker was frozen out by the Italian after withdrawing from the squad for the Nations Cup in May 2011, reportedly due to tiredness.

Asked if Trapattoni’s exit might open the door for him to come back and add to his four caps, Stokes, 25, said: “I hope so. I have said since I have been left out of the squads that I would love to be back in. I am just concentrating on my club football and hopefully when a new manager comes in, and I am still performing well, maybe I will get my opportunity.”

Kevin Doyle, more recently excluded from Trapattoni’s plans, has also been backed for a recall by his club manager. Said Wolves’ boss Kenny Jackett: “After Shane Long and Robbie Keane there is a rotation, with Andy Keogh, Conor Sammon, and Paddy Madden. So it does seem there are places up for grabs even without the change of manager.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged Shane Long could be a fresh £6.5m target for Hull City in the January transfer window — if he doesn’t sign a new contract at West Brom in the meantime.

And Hull boss Steve Bruce revealed the timetable of events on transfer deadline day that saw Long left “high and dry” at City’s training ground after they had hired a jet to fly him from Ireland’s training camp before the World Cup qualifier against Sweden.

“West Brom let us know, as far as I was aware, at about 9pm and never returned any of our calls at all,” said Bruce. “Something changed. I don’t think it was the terms of the deal because in the end we went back to West Brom and said ‘If that’s what you want, that’s what you can have.’

“In the end I don’t think they wanted to sell him, simple as that. But it’s left the lad in a difficult position. At 10pm, Shane Long was at our training ground left high and dry.

“I felt for him but it’s also bitterly disappointing for us too.”