It’s clear that Roy Keane doesn’t see his future as an assistant manager anyway

Roy Keane doesn't want to be a number two forever.

But he also doesn't want to leave Martin O'Neill either. The Republic of Ireland assistant manager has pledged his near future to the international set-up, granted the boss wants to keep him. But, in the long term, he's looking at club management again. Keane has had ups and downs with Sunderland and Ipswich in his career on the sideline to date but he has since gone to work under both Martin O'Neill and Paul Lambert in the club and national circuit. And, speaking at the PFAI Awards ceremony, Keane admitted that he's eager to get back in the hot seat at some stage. "Our contract takes us up to the summer and a lot depends on what Martin wants to do," he said. “If Martin does want me to stay on, it would be hard to say no because I’m a loyal person. "I do want to get back in the ring and make the big calls. That could be two or four years away." He wants to get back and prove he can do it and use that drive that set him apart as a player. There's also another very simple reason. "You get more money as the manager..."