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.