Roy Keane is totally immersed in Ipswich Town and is indifferent to his former clubs, writes MARY HANNIGAN

‘IS IT eight years,” asked Roy Keane. “It is,” said Pádraig Mallon, Chief Executive of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, confirming how long Keane has been involved with the organisation.

“Eight years,” repeated the Ipswich Town manager with a hint of disbelief, wondering where the time has gone.

But time tends to fly when you lead an eventful life, and in the last eight years alone there’s rarely been a dull moment for Keane. Not that he has time to reflect on any of it. Managing Ipswich, he insisted, occupies his every waking hour.

“It’s 24/7, it’s unbelievable, there’s no getting away from it,” he said.

That can’t be healthy.

“No, far from it. Ask my wife. There’s obviously an element of a buzz to it, a bit like a drug. When I go to bed at night now I’m not thinking about lying on a beach, I’m thinking about players, what we need, staff, what kind of an assistant do I need, if I need an assistant; 24/7, absolutely.

“I can understand why other managers get in to horseracing, collecting wine, going on fancy holidays, whatever it might be,” he said, with a nod in the direction of his old boss at Old Trafford.

“But my way of relaxing is walking my dogs or going to the pictures. It’s not really exciting, but that’s it. That’s when I switch off, when I’m at the cinema. I wouldn’t watch a movie at home because the telephone’s going, the dogs are barking and the kids are crying.”

If they’d made a movie about the first half of Ipswich’s season they might have opted for a title of “Nightmare at Portman Road”, but the Championship side dug themselves out of trouble and are 10 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of their final game of the campaign on Sunday.

“I just thought we had a little bit of luck in the second half of the season,” said Keane. “We didn’t win in the first 12, 14 matches so there was a lot of frustration, but the players kept going and we got the luck we deserved. There has been a massive improvement, but that wasn’t going to be hard with the start we had.”

Despite recent rumours about Ipswich owner Marcus Evans being on the verge of sacking Keane, the Corkman insists their relationship is solid and that he is already planning for next season.

“I’ve good support from the owner, he’s been very good to me, speaks to me with a bit of respect, he doesn’t talk down to me, which is important. That gives me a chance, it makes me happy. I’m looking forward to getting the job done next year.”

It’s one of several occasions that Keane referred to being treated him with respect. In contrast to your experience at Sunderland? “No, no, don’t put two and two together and come up with five,” he said, somewhat unconvincingly.

But Sunderland, evidently, aren’t the only one of his former clubs for whom he has, well, mixed feelings.

The Premier League title race?

“It’s strange, I’ve very little interest in it, to be honest with you, very little interest,” he said.

“You move on. The table at the end of the season won’t lie, whoever wins the league wins it, good luck to them. But whatever happens at other clubs, even the clubs I was involved with . . . it’s pretty scary really, I’ve no interest whatsoever. You move on. I’m pretty sure they’ve wiped me from their history, I’ve wiped them from mine,” he said of Manchester United. “You always have a little interest in your old teams, Rockmount, Cobh, Sunderland, Forest, Celtic, but if you think I’m waiting hoping they’ll win these trophies, I’m not,

“I’m dead relaxed about it. All my priorities are with Ipswich. I’ve seen at the end what the business side of these clubs can do to people, so I take it all with a pinch of salt. I don’t have attachment to these clubs emotionally.”

Professionally, though, what’s your opinion?

“Professionally, I think both teams are capable of winning their last two games. Of course they are. But for anyone to suggest Liverpool’s players will go out quite happy for Chelsea to win, they’re living in cuckoo land. But yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me if they both won their last couple of games. And that would mean Chelsea winning it. Which would mean very little to me.”

The new Lansdowne Road? “I’ve just passed it, it’s the first time I’ve seen it, from the outside it looks absolutely brilliant.” Have you been invited to the opening? “No” he laughs. “I’ll have to gatecrash it.”

Roy Keane on . . .

Ipswich goalkeeper Brian Murphy

“Is he international standard? Without a shadow of a doubt. He made his debut at Sheffield Wednesday, made a save after 12 seconds, from there on he’s been outstanding. With Shay getting injured he’s got a great chance. He wouldn’t let any one down. Good goalkeeper.”

Paul McGrath

“No one likes to see any ex-player, ex-team-mate, struggling at a difficult time, we all want Paul to get well, but Paul knows where he can get help. If it was down to everyone wishing him well then Paul would be fine. Please God he’ll get that bit of help, he deserves it. But he’s got to want it, no matter what I say or do won’t help Paul, unfortunately.”

On the Aviva Stadium

“I’ve heard it’s magnificent, it’s about time. I’m not sure the players enjoyed playing in Croke Park, but it was brilliant in terms of getting extra people in, the atmosphere. But you need your own home, your own footballing stadium. Should have been done years ago really, but better late than never.”