ROY Keane has not had his ambitions marred by the Blues' 'horrendous' start to the season.The Ipswich Town boss today revealed his Christmas wish: 'To manage for a 1,000 games'.

Elvin King

ROY Keane has not had his ambitions marred by the Blues' 'horrendous' start to the season.

The Ipswich Town boss today revealed his Christmas wish: 'To manage for a 1,000 games'.

He leads his team into Championship action at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day (kick-off 1pm) pitting his wits against long-serving Eagles manager Neil Warnock, who is one of a select band to have reached four figures.

The Selhurst Park supremo began with Scarborough in August 1986 and moved on to Notts County, Huddersfield, Plymouth, Oldham, Bury, Sheffield United and now Palace.

“Neil has done very well and is unlucky not to still be in the Premier League with Sheffield United,” said Keane.

“It is a good achievement to reach 1,000 and please God I will be able to do the same.

“I want to be a top manager, and this is my aim.”

And speaking of his Ipswich ambitions, Keane went on: “The owner can see things are turning round and I think he has got the right man at the helm.

“I have a two-year contract and judge me after then.

“This season we have made it very hard for ourselves after our horrendous start, but there are a lot of games still to come and lots of points to play for.”

Keane confirmed that he feels more comfortable in his position now after a run of ten unbeaten matches, and he lamented the number of recent managerial casualties, in

particular his former Manchester United team mate Mark Hughes.

“I would rather go hungry than manage Manchester City as my loyalty has to be with United after playing for them for so long,” said Keane.

“It must be very hard to

manage your former rivals and I would not do it.”