UNITED KINGDOM / IRELAND: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Former Manchester United and Ireland midfielder Roy Keane is to become manager at second division Sunderland Football Club

Former Manchester United and Ireland captain Roy Keane is poised to take over as manager of second division Sunderland, according to media reports on Wednesday (August 24). Keane, 35, who ended his 18-year playing career in June after spending six months with Scottish champions Celtic, could take charge of Sunderland in time for Monday's home game against West Bromwich Albion, said the BBC and Sky. Sunderland, relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and currently bottom of the second division, would only say they were on the brink of appointing a "high-profile" figure as manager. "The club is in discussions with a high-profile figure and are hopeful an announcement will be made in the near future," read a statement on their Web site. Niall Quinn, 39, Keane's former Ireland team mate, has been working in the dual role of manager and chairman after a consortium he led bought a controlling interest in the club last month. But Sunderland have started the season in woeful fashion, losing their opening four league matches of the season as well as being knocked out of the League Cup by fourth division Bury on Tuesday.

ITN Source | August 24, 2006

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