The widespread belief that the Celtic managerial role would be a smashing gig for someone in Roy Keane's position was endorsed by none other than Martin O'Neill today.
He cheerfully disclosed that Keane might be ready to leave after a two and a half years as a sidekick (albeit an unusually prominent one) with Ireland.
Could he do the job? I would have no problems with that whatsoever. Would he be capable of doing that? Absolutely. But as Roy said, you still have to be asked and so far, I'm not so sure that that's been the case.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/263806335" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]
But I don't think that he would give things up here lightly. Something would have to, as he often says, his favourite phrase, ‘rock his boat’ - I think is what he says.
But he has enjoyed it here. I think it has been good for him, but is he ready to go? Yes, he could very well be.
The jaunty candour with which O'Neill admitted that Keane could soon be off caused some bemusement. Far from quietening the speculation, he appeared to be egging it on. Some took it as simple confirmation that Keane doesn't want to be hanging around in a No. 2 role for much longer.
However, there is another angle to consider here, that of O'Neill's own contract situation.
The long-standing, and greatly maligned, Irish tradition in these situations is to ensure that the manager is signed up before a ball (oval or otherwise) is kicked in the upcoming major tournament. This has backfired on Irish sporting bodies with great regularity in the modern era.
Signing up Eddie O'Sullivan on the eve of the 2007 World Cup looked like an entirely sensible and unexceptional move.
Within a couple of months, the captain hindsights were nodding their heads wearily at the incomprehensible doltishness of these IRFU decision makers.
Likewise with Giovanni Trappatoni in 2012.
However, there are reasons for nailing down the manager's contract in advance of the tournament. The manager will be enticed by the security blanket should the whole thing go tits up in the summer. And the FAI will have the manager tied down should things go well and his stock rise afterwards.
This time around, Martin O'Neill has not signed a new contract ahead of the Euros, though this is not primarily the result of FAI reluctance. O'Neill has heavily implied that the reluctance lies on his side.
He has alluded to the post-Euro 2012 situation when Giovanni Trapattoni was allowed limp on in the role for a further two years amid growing public weariness and apathy, effectively wasting a World Cup qualifying campaign.
O'Neill nobly insists that he is wary about outstaying his welcome.
Things didn't go so well (in 2012) and you actually come back from the competition on a downer. That's my point. Sometimes you don't want to overstay your welcome.
But with all the speculation buzzing about linking him with Everton and Nottingham Forest, could it be that case that he is just making the FAI sweat in the hope of securing a better deal?
Is it possible that Martin O'Neill is bigging up Roy's suitability for the Ireland job in the hopes of panicking the FAI into offering the two of them a generous contract?
Read more: Arsenal Reportedly Set For An Eyebrow-Raising Raid On Leicester's Top Talent
