Celtic fans not shedding any tears

The announcement that Roy Keane would not ‘pursue talks’ with Celtic divided Glasgow last night in much the same way blue and green-and-white shirts do.

On one hand, a majority of Celtic fans appeared nonplussed by the snub from a player who made just 13 appearances for the Hoops, but many ‘insiders’ were shocked by the news, having confidently predicted on Sunday Keane would be in place yesterday.

While most Celtic fans were desperately looking for reasons to be convinced Keane was a good appointment, it appears the Corkman wasn’t convinced it was the right job for him either.

One agent, with strong links to the Glasgow club, was adamant Keane would be in place by yesterday, while an influential blogger, again with sources inside Celtic Park, ‘confirmed’ the Corkman’s appointment on Sunday evening, adding it would require a ‘huge u-turn’ for it not to be the case.

Come yesterday afternoon, Keane had performed that U-turn.

“Thank god for that,” was how one relieved Celtic fan responded; and he was not alone.

“Fantastic! So glad he’s not getting the job,” said another, “Currently doing an Irish jig that Keane’s not going to be Celtic’s new manager,” one added, before the coup de grace was applied; “not sure why this is big news, not one Celtic fan I spoke to wanted Roy Keane as manager.”

While Celtic claimed ‘no-one has been offered’ the job, media sources in Glasgow suggested last night Keane was offered the post on Saturday.

The suggestion that Keane has now asked ‘not to be considered for the position’ was seen as a face-saving exercise by the Celtic board.

Ireland fans reacted positively to the cult figure proving his loyalty to the cause, while Celtic fans, privately pleased to be linked with such a box-office name, were never convinced he was the man to lead the club into the Champions League.

Chief executive Peter Lawwell spoke up for Keane’s credentials by saying: “Roy has played here, he is a Celtic supporter. He is a first class guy.” But for fans that was hardly the ringing endorsement they wanted to hear.

Just as Henrik Larsson’s potential appointment — a man, incidentally, who would put Keane in the shade in terms of his status among Celtic fans — was not enthusiastically welcomed, nor was Keane’s likely to be, particularly with such a patchy club record and zero European experience, in the dugout, at least.

But the attraction of the job to Keane was also questioned last night by a Scottish source: “I imagine he didn’t want to walk out on Ireland again for a job that is largely a thankless task. You also have to ask how he would fit in with the requirements to have players foisted on him and who he has to develop for selling.”

Aiden McGeady claimed Keane told him he would be moving to Edinburgh when he took the job, Martin O’Neill was convinced it’d all be done and dusted by Wednesday, but it appears the ability of Keane to surprise everyone is the one certainty in football.