Keane’s appointment should prove good news for Aston Villa

Having looked a nailed on cert to join up with former club Celtic as their manager, Roy Keane appears to favour taking up another number two role at Aston Villa to run in tandem with his current post as Martin O’Neil’s assistance for the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland play England’s Group D opponents Costa Rica in the south American’s final warm-up match in the US, where the Irish are 29/20 to inflict defeat.

Given Villa have spent the last two seasons consistently flirting with relegation, prompting owner Randy Lerner to put the club up for sale, Keane’s appointment is perhaps not the news to send them into optimistic delirium regarding next season.

However, even though Paul Lambert staying on in charge is not every Villa fan’s choice after overseeing consecutive 15th-place finishes or indeed Keane joining him at the helm, it could actually bring about an improvement in fortunes.

It’s true that Keane has proven a divisive figure in the past, especially in his playing days at Manchester United and with Ireland.

But the general consensus is that the man who used to murder opponents with a single stare in the tunnel as a player has mellowed somewhat with age.

Much has been made of his sacking by Ipswich also, though he did lead the Tractor Boys to a League Cup semi-final in his time at Portland Road, while taking Sunderland from 19th position to winning the Championship in a single season is an achievement which shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Also, if Lambert is a supposedly soft touch, then installing an element of fear in the dressing room is no bad thing, especially on a young and impressionable squad like Villa’s.

Having someone around who is as experienced and as decorated as the United legend, could prove very inspiring for a dressing room containing so many fresh faces.

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