Roy Keane: I’m not going to jump ship after Euro 2016

Roy Keane admits Ireland will need all their leadership qualities to defy a lowly seeding at next summer’s European Championships.

Martin O’Neill’s side will be amongst the fourth bracket of nations in Saturday week’s draw in Paris, heightening the prospects of a similarly daunting pool to the one they were handed four years ago.

However, the Ireland assistant boss reckons the qualities displayed by the team in the latter stages of the campaign, including the play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, can provide the nation with hope heading to France.

“We don’t want to have that mentality going over there that it’s great, let’s have a sing song,” cautioned Keane, who drew the ire of Irish fans for suggesting that was the mindset in 2012.

“We’ll need all our leaders in France. Listen, the Irish fans want to see us do well and win football matches which will be possibly difficult because of the seedings.

“There’s always talk of the fighting Irish but we have qualities. Jon Walters got the headlines on Monday for his workrate and goals against Bosnia.

“Other lads can lead in different ways — in the dressing room, in the background or when they’re travelling.

“Jon led by example. When we missed Jon in the first leg, others stepped up to the plate like Robbie Brady scoring that excellent goal.

“Looking back, we had Aiden McGeady in the first match scoring the winner in Georgia, then Shane Long against Poland in the last minute and then against Germany.

“In Seamus Coleman, there’s no better right-back out there at the moment.

“Whatever happens, I know these lads will have a good go in France. If we come up short but the players have given everything for their country, no problem with that.

“They do give all for their country. Win lose or draw, that keeps me happy.”

Keane has eased fears that he was ready to quit for a return to the club circuit following the Euros. With Martin O’Neill ready to sign a new contract for the World Cup qualifying campaign, Keane backtracked on last week’s stance of “playing it by ear.”

“If Martin wants me to stay on, it will be very hard to say no because I think I’m a very loyal person and I don’t forget that Martin gave me that chance,” the Corkman admitted.

“I’m not going to jump ship. I enjoy the job, working with Martin, staff and players.

“There is a little part of me that I can’t get away from that wants to get back in the ring and make the big decisions.

“That will fall into place, it depends on how long Martin wants to stay and how long he wants me with him.

“It’s been brilliant from day one. It’s everything I hoped it would be. Maybe people were surprised when Martin approached me. And I was unemployed.

“Sometimes you have to weigh things up but the minute I met Martin in Birmingham and he said do you fancy it, I said ‘right, let’s go for it.’

“We’ve good chemistry, I’ve a lot of respect for Martin. I always liked the way his teams played.

“Martin has got a lot of time for everybody whereas that that will probably let me down eventually!”