Keane: ‘I’ve got two jobs, I don’t need another’

As was eminently predictable, Ireland’s preparations for tomorrow’s friendly against Turkey — the first of four summer games — were conducted in the teeth of cold, gusting wind and heavy rain at Gannon Park in Malahide yesterday.

The almost wintry conditions would have provided a ready-made excuse for Roy Keane to cut short his pitchside media briefing after training but, even though the date happened to be the 12th anniversary of Saipan — not that anyone was inclined to mention the war, you understand — Ireland’s assistant manager chose not to prematurely walk away, or even take up the offer of moving indoors, instead merely pulling his hood up over his head and pressing on with what for him, it’s not hard to imagine, must be just about the least rewarding of his duties as Ireland’s number two.

And especially when we in the media pack are determined to press him on a topic that belongs entirely to the realms of speculation — in this instance, the fact that his name has been linked with the managerial vacancy at Celtic.

“You just said the word speculation, well that is your job isn’t it?” Keane responded. “I have a job. It’s amazing — strangely enough, when I was out of a job there was speculation about nothing. I have got a job now (and) I’m not taking a pay cut for nobody!”

And just in case anyone still wasn’t getting the message, he eventually resorted to deadpan repetition: “But I’ve got a job, I’ve got a job, I’ve got a job .... I’ve got two jobs, I don’t need another one.”

But, Roy, we persisted in desperation, this is Celtic… “Well I was up there for six months and hardly kicked a ball for them. No, of course I played for them and it’s one of the world’s greatest clubs but I’ve got a job.

“If anyone ever rings me about work, I will speak to Martin and the FAI. I’m happy enough and I’m focused on what I’m doing and it has not crossed my mind, to be honest.”

Keane’s reference to having two jobs was a reminder that he will be away from the Irish camp on ITV duty at the Champions League final in Lisbon tonight, a direct clash with his international duties which he insisted will be a one-off.

“I will be in and out on the same day,” he said. “It is not ideal. I think I said a couple of weeks ago that I was not comfortable with it. It won’t happen again, trust me, it won’t happen again.”

The overriding focus for Keane right now is to help Martin O’Neill and the rest of his backroom team extract as much from this unusually extended time with the Irish squad, while bearing in mind that most of the players have already put in a long season.

“It is difficult because the players who turn up we know will be under a lot of pressure from their clubs,” Keane said.

“But a lot of the lads who’ve turned up, they haven’t played 50 or 60 games, you know. But also, it’s about getting that right mentality, that they’ve not switched off.

“Some of them haven’t played for a number of weeks, we know all that. We were aware when we took the job that when you come together, there’s going to be lads coming in with different attitudes. Lads doing well at club level. Lads who haven’t been playing much. Lads in a different mindset. We just have to make sure it’s upbeat at training. Short and sharp. We’re not looking to flog them. We’re not here to improve their fitness levels. It’s just short and sharp. A good spirit. Bit of banter. And we’re delighted with the turnout. We knew some of the players would be under pressure at club level. We’re delighted, and we have been for the previous three games. Long may that continue. But it’s a good opportunity for the players as well. Let’s not be kidding ourselves, we shouldn’t be getting on our hands and knees when they turn up in the sense that a lot of lads would be desperate to get games. Some of them haven’t played much football anyway. It’s an important few games for the majority of the players. We know what John O’Shea can do, and Jon Walters. For lads that are maybe on the fringes, it’s an opportunity for them over the next few weeks to put their hands up and say to the manager ‘listen, don’t be afraid to throw me in when the qualifiers come’.”

And the first audition takes place tomorrow evening against Turkey, the only one of Ireland’s four opponents this summer not to be heading to Brazil.

“It will be a tough test as they are a top, top team and they have some quality players,” said Keane. “People say there are no easy games in football, well there are, you can have one or two. Turkey certainly don’t fall into that category. We were disappointed with the result against Serbia and we want to bounce back. A win and a good performance would be nice.”