ROY Keane is confident that he won't walk away from his two-year contract at Ipswich Town - but he wouldn't bet on it.

Stuart Watson

ROY Keane is confident that he won't walk away from his two-year contract at Ipswich Town - but he wouldn't bet on it.

The odds against the Irishman still being at Portman Road come June dropped dramatically to 3-1 this week after the Suffolk club's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest made it their worst start to a season in 40 years.

The 38-year-old spent 12 loyal years at Manchester United as a player, but stormed away from the Republic of Ireland squad during the 2002 World Cup and quit as Sunderland manager at the end of last year following disagreements with the manager and chairman respectively on those two occasions.

When asked about the bookmakers' question mark over his long-term commitment to the club, Keane - who has already declared himself happy with the support he has been getting from owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg so far - said: “I'm not a betting man, I've said that many times before. I'm quite happy with my few bob in the bank.

“Two years, that's what I've signed, I could have signed a three year deal, but I like setting myself challenges and if people think I'm not afraid to work hard they're wrong.

“I have had difficult periods in my career before and I have always got through it.

“I'm fairly confident that come my the end of my time at this club, two years, that's the contract I have signed, we will be in the Premiership.

“No one said it was going to be easy.”

Ipswich face Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon and Keane knows it is going to be another tough challenge for his winless side.

He said: “They're a decent team and it's going to be a tough game. They came here last year and won the game comfortably. We know they are capable of keeping the ball and causing teams problems which they have done to one or two teams that are in a lot better position than we are at the moment.

“But we are looking forward to it. It's another challenge and another opportunity.”