Keane gets vote of confidence from Ipswich supremo

Roy Keane has been assured that Ipswich have no plans to replace him as manager, despite the club’s failure to challenge for promotion in the former Manchester United midfielder’s first season in charge.

Chief executive Simon Clegg on Monday dismissed widespread reports that Keane was on the verge of being removed from the hotseat at Portman Road.

“I’m still fully committed to Roy Keane,” Clegg insisted. “It has been a disappointing season but Roy is still building his team.

“I understand there have been some speculation stories but Roy is just starting out to get us where we want to be.”

Keane said he had not been affected by the media speculation about his future, which has been triggered in part by suggestions he might be a target for Celtic, for whom he played briefly at the end of his career on the pitch.

“I don’t feel I am under any more pressure and I certainly don’t take any notice of what the newspapers say,” Keane said. “I never read them.

“If you think I am fearful of losing my job then you are wrong. If I lose my job then I lose my job.

“We want to aim for consistency between now and the end of the season but if the club wants to move me on they will move me on.”

Ipswich currently lie 16th in the 24-team Championship having spent most of the season skirting with the fight against relegation.