Roy Keane has promised to make a decision on the Celtic manager’s job within the next 24 hours.
The Irishman was officially offered the position on Wednesday and has been mulling over the offer.
Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is desperate to land a box-office name to replace Neil Lennon. And he’s put together a fantastic financial package to tempt Keane to take over the role.
The Republic of Ireland assistant manager informed the Parkhead club he would provide them with his answer after their friendly fixture with Italy in London. But it’s understood the former Manchester United captain has other job offers in England which he has also been thinking over.
Celtic are keen to appoint a new manager that will capture the imagination of their supporters.
Henrik Larsson was their first port of call and Malky Mackay was the second choice. However, both former Hoops players intimated they didn’t want the job before Desmond made Keane his preferred target.
And in a bid to push an agreement through the man who spent the final six months of his playing career at Celtic has been offered an enhanced contract.
Keane will earn more than Lennon and has also been offered massive bonuses for qualifying for the Champions League and delivering domestic cup success. He has also been promised significant funds to improve his squad to allow him to put his own stamp on the team.
The Irishman knows this is the most important decision of his managerial career. Keane led Sunderland to promotion to the Premier League with huge financial backing but things turned sour before he pitched up at Championship side Ipswich Town.
That proved to be a disastrous move and he remained out of work until Martin O’Neill appointed him his right-hand man with the Republic of Ireland national team.
But Celtic will give Keane the chance to show he’s got what it takes to be a success in the dugout.
O’Neill has already given him his blessing to accept the job but that will mean his time with the national team will come to an end as he won’t be able to continue in that role if he accepts the Celtic job.
The Parkhead club were keen to appoint someone with an affinity to the club.
And they also wanted a name that would help sell season tickets without Rangers, Hearts and Hibs in the top flight.
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