By Cathal Dervan

Roy Keane could announce his next port of call this week after Celtic boss Gordon Strachan all but issued a “come and join us” plea to the former Manchester United captain.

Keane has received over 40 contract offers from clubs all across the world after his sudden departure from Old Trafford, but sources close to the player remain adamant that he will not sign for another Premiership outfit.

Despite interest from Italy and Spain, Celtic are now the red-hot favorites for Keane’s services after their manager’s comments at the weekend when he backed up an earlier statement from the club inviting Keane to talks.

“Last week we made it clear that if at any time Roy would like to speak to us about his future and Celtic’s we would be only too happy to speak to him and I fully support that statement,” Strachan said.

“The board and I had discussed exactly what to say about the situation and I agree with the others. He was a magnificent player and servant for Manchester United who knows all about Celtic.”

Hoops legend Kenny Dalglish believes Keane will find the chance to join Celtic irresistible. Dalglish said, “Roy Keane has stated publicly that he is a huge Celtic fan.

“He has been to some of the Old Firm games and I think Gordon is a huge fan of Roy Keane as a player. Whether the two of them end up being together, who knows? But there seems to be a lot of things going for it at the moment.”

Former Celtic star Tommy Gemmell has urged Strachan to proceed cautiously on the Keane front, however, with his prime concern centering on the financial demands of any move.

Gemmell said, “The club have already said they have a ceiling as far as wages are concerned. It would not be right for them to go above that in these circumstances.

“Roy Keane has been a great player and a very influential player at his peak, but I don’t know if it is worth going over the odds to get him now.”

West Ham are one of the English clubs interested in Keane, and his former United teammate Teddy Sheringham has urged the Corkman to stay in England and ignore the appeal of a move to Parkhead.

“I would love Roy Keane here at West Ham. He’s a fantastic footballer and would improve our team tenfold,” Sheringham told the News of the World.

“I think he has at least two years left at the top so it would be a big blow to the Premiership if he leaves now. I would certainly be very surprised if he goes to Celtic. He’s far too good to go up into the Scottish League. It would be a waste of an amazing talent.

Former United player David Beckham, who himself made a rapid exit after a fall-out with Alex Ferguson in 2003, has criticized the way his one time teammate was shown the door.

“I remember saying after I left that I would love to say goodbye and thank the manager and at least get a handshake but I didn’t have the time, it was all done so quickly,” Beckham said.

“Mine came as more of a surprise to me than anyone else. Roy Keane’s was a shock too, but I hope he is remembered for the 12 years and the trophies and not his departure. It was an honor to be in the same side.”

Beckham has urged his club Real Madrid to sign Keane.

Shock Defeat

CELTIC suffered a shock home defeat at the hands of Dunfermline on Saturday, but the potential damage to their title hopes was lessened when second placed Hearts could only draw at Motherwell.

Rangers lost again on Sunday, but Celtic boss Gordon Strachan insisted there was no comfort to be taken at all from the weekend’s results after his side were beaten by a 17th minute goal from teenager Greg Ross.

“At this time, those results give me no comfort whatsoever,” said Strachan after a rare home defeat. “Our failure to break Dunfermline down today cost us dearly. For the first half-hour, the style was not conducive to winning the game.

“When we changed style to try and win, we were far more of a threat but we left it too late and weren’t good enough or lucky enough to win. We can’t accept that this was because the players couldn’t get going. The style of play has to be able to produce shots and crosses to give you the chance to win the game.

“But that’s a lesson we have to take on board. Once we realized that wasn’t working, we changed it but there was not much excitement in the box and we weren’t good enough. It’s unfair to pick on one player. I am not lambasting, slamming tea cups or slamming players.

Fit again midfielder Stephen Pearson, meanwhile, has admitted that he may have to leave Parkhead if he can’t force his way back into Strachan’s plans after a long spell on the sidelines.

“It has been frustrating but I’m back from injury now,” said Pearson. “I just need to keep knuckling down and hope I get the nod. I have two-and-a-half years left. Of course I will look to go if I am not playing.

“At my age I need to be playing football. I will look at the situation in January and see how it goes from there. I’ve missed a lot of football over the last year so I want to get back playing sooner rather than later.”

Off the field, Bhoys captain Neil Lennon has personally backed the club’s share offer, set up and supported by owner Dermot Desmond to fund a new youth academy at the club.

Lennon said, “Celtic have been very good to me the past five years and, as a supporter, long after I’ve left the club, at least I’ll have put a bit back into it. This is an opportunity I never had before. It’s just a small investment but it’s something I think is really worthwhile.

“It will open the doors for not only more Scottish kids but more Irish kids as well. For example, Shaun Maloney has been part of the squad for about four years now and you’re looking at the likes of Stephen McManus who has come in this season and is a regular now and holding down his place, which is great.

“When it’s finished the training facility will be something to be proud of and it will be a match for anything in Britain.”

All Tyrone

TYRONE scooped eight football all-stars on Friday night with footballer of the year Stephen O’Neill leading the charge that also saw Ryan McMenamin, Conor Gormley, Philip Jordan, Sean Cavanagh, Brian Dooher, Peter Canavan and Owen Mulligan honored.

Kerry, beaten in the All-Ireland final, won four awards via Colm Cooper, Diarmuid Murphy, Michael McCarthy and Tomas O Se, while Armagh had Andy Mallon, Steven McDonnell and Paul McGrane on the team.

The 2005 Vodafone All-Stars football team — Diarmuid Murphy (Kerry); Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone), Michael McCarthy (Kerry), Andy Mallon (Armagh); Tomas O Se (Kerry), Conor Gormley (Tyrone), Phillip Jordan (Tyrone); Sean Kavanagh (Tyrone), Paul McGrane (Armagh); Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Peter Canavan (Tyrone), Owen Mulligan (Tyrone); Colm Cooper (Kerry), Stephen O’Neill (Tyrone), Stephen McDonald (Armagh).

Rovers Drop

SHAMROCK Rovers reached new lows on Friday night when a 1-1 second leg draw with Dublin City in the promotion-relegation playoff condemned the Hoops to First Division football next season.

And manager Roddy Collins has been sacked as manager with immediate effect after serving a two week suspension imposed by the club’s owners.

With Collins suspended last week, former Rovers goalkeeper Alan O’Neill took charge of the team for the game that ended the club’s 82 year run in the top flight of Irish football.

O’Neill admitted, “It’s a sad day for the club. It is how we respond to this now that matters most. We gave it our best shot but unfortunately it just was no good enough on the night.

“I’m shattered but we’re in the First Division and that’s that. There’s nothing anyone can do to change it now.”

Begley’s Rules

LAOIS star Colm Begley has spoken for the first time of his determination to carve out a career in Aussie Rules after making his debut for the Brisbane Lions alongside fellow recruit Brendan Quigley last week.

“My goal is to be here for six or eight years and make a career out of this,” said Begley, 19. “It was a big decision to live so far from home, but I made a decision to come here and try my best.

“I’ll go through good times and bad times, but the club has been great. I have two years to prove myself. A lot can happen in two years and hopefully we’ll be listed as seniors.

“At home, I have to get up and be at work as an apprentice carpenter. Here, I get up in the morning and be a professional footballer.

“It’s good to be training all day and get the best out of yourself. Even if I don’t make it here, I’d only be 21 when I go home — a win-win situation.”

Cork Controversy

ALL-Ireland champions Cork have dominated a controversial all-star team for 2005 with no fewer than six members of their victorious panel selected by the journalists on the judging panel.

Full-back Diarmuid O’Sullivan collected his fourth award on Friday night with Pat Mulcahy, John Gardiner, Sean Og O hAilpín, Jerry O’Connor and Ben O’Connor also recognized for their outstanding season.

The 2005 Vodafone All-Stars hurling team: Davy Fitzgerald (Clare); Pat Mulcahy (Cork), Diarmuid O’Sullivan (Cork), Ollie Canning (Galway); Derek Hardiman (Galway), John Gardiner (Cork), Sean Og O hAilpín (Cork); Jerry O’Connor (Cork), Paul Kelly (Tipperary); Ben O’Connor (Cork), Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny); Ger Farragher (Galway), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Damien Hayes (Galway).

Barry Out?

EAMONN Barry could quit as Meath manager after just one game in charge. Barry’s first selection beat Louth in a challenge on Sunday but afterwards the new boss confirmed he is at loggerheads with the county board over the make-up of his backroom team.

Barry wants to appoint brother Martin as his assistant and Dessie Rogers as physio but the board have refused to sanction the move.

Both men were suspended after a row with board chairman Fintan Ginnity in 2003, and Barry has threatened to quit if his decision isn’t ratified.

Defender Paddy Reynolds has retired from the county scene but Summerhill’s Mark O’Reilly has denied newspaper reports that he too is to opt out. Darren Fay and Trevor Giles have yet to decide on their futures.