Martin O'Neill: 'Roy Keane can't take on second coaching job'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 31 July 2016

Martin O'Neill warns Roy Keane that he will have to step aside as Republic of Ireland assistant manager if he takes on a coaching position elsewhere.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has told assistant Roy Keane that he will have to leave his position should he decide to take on a second role elsewhere.

The former Manchester United midfielder, who has been part of the Ireland fold for three years, was recently linked with the vacant top job at Hull City following the departure of Steve Bruce.

O'Neill would not be willing to let Keane balance his duties across both international and club football, though, much like he did when second-in-command at Aston Villa in 2014.

"If you're going into to manage at club level, that's your job. You couldn't do the two," the Irish Independent quotes him as saying. "Roy can answer for himself but I think he would feel that way too.

"With his experience of Villa in mind, if an assistant manager's job position occurred again, he would maybe have second thoughts about it.

"In one aspect, I'm quite pleased that Roy's name is being mentioned again. It feels like he's really contributing. I would really be disappointed if he left but I don't want to hold anybody."

Keane has only previously managed two sides, Ipswich Town and Sunderland, with both stints lasting two years.