Melbourne club quiet on Keane link

Melbourne Victory have refused to comment on speculation linking Roy Keane with their vacant manager’s position.

Keane is currently without a job after being sacked by Ipswich in January and reports in England and Australia have suggested he is in talks with the A-League club.

Victory, who finished fifth in the recently-completed season before losing in an elimination play-off semi-final to Gold Coast United, are seeking a new boss following Ernie Merrick’s departure last month.

Keane is known to be in Australia – he attended Wednesday night’s Asian Champions league match between Sydney FC and Shanghai Shenhua at the Sydney Football Stadium – but Victory were coy when quizzed about the prospect of hiring the former Manchester United midfielder.

A club spokesman told the Melbourne Herald: “We won’t be commenting on speculation regarding the coaching position.

“Suffice to say, we still have a long way to go in the process of appointing a coach.”

Keane has had mixed results in management after ending his playing career at Celtic.

He was appointed Sunderland boss in 2006 and led them into the Premier League before resigning in December 2008.

He then spent 21 months at Championship side Ipswich.