FAI won't block Keane move to Hull

The FAI says they will not stand in Roy Keane's way if the Ireland assistant manager is offered the Hull City job.

Keane's former Manchester United team-mate Steve Bruce resigned on Friday after becoming frustrated with the Tigers' lack of transfer activity over the summer, amid rumours of a breakdown in his relationship with vice-chairman Ehab Allam.

The FAI say Keane, who became Martin O'Neill's assistant in November 2013, will be allowed to leave should Hull come calling.

"Roy has done a great job and the younger players in his squad look up to him. We’d hate to lose him but we’d leave it up to Roy," an FAI source told the Daily Star.

"He was approached by Celtic two years ago and decided to stay and he left the Aston Villa assistant’s job because he wanted to focus solely on Ireland.

"So he has been very loyal and we’d be confident he’ll stay – but we won’t put any pressure on him."

Another of Keane's former Old Trafford team-mates, Mike Phelan, has already stated his interest in taking the job on a permanent basis.

The 53-year-old, who Bruce appointed as his assistant manager in February 2015, was named as caretaker boss on Friday and oversaw the 2-0 friendly win at Scunthorpe on Saturday.

"I want to be a manager. I don't really see why I shouldn't want to be a manager. Time will tell. That decision doesn't sometimes come down to you," he told the Hull Daily Mail.

"I've had a small chat and I was asked if I would carry on being in charge for now. We have games, we have preparations, we've still got three weeks to go.

"My job is no different to what it has been except now I'm stood on the touchline in games doing my bit.

"We just have to do our job, there's nothing else we can do until the powers that be make their decisions."