FOLLOWING the worst start to an Ipswich Town season for 40 years, manager Roy Keane is now heavily tipped to part company with the club before the end of the season.

Elvin King

FOLLOWING the worst start to an Ipswich Town season for 40 years, manager Roy Keane is now heavily tipped to part company with the club before the end of the season.

Sky Bet are currently offering odds of 3-1 on that Keane will leave before June, a huge drop in price from the 8-1 against quoted at the start of the campaign.

They say that bookmakers are never wrong, but in this case they look way off the mark.

Keane's position is currently under no threat whatsoever at Portman Road with a high expectation level around the club that once that elusive first victory arrives others will follow.

The Republic of Ireland footballing legend may have inner doubts about his managerial credentials that goes against his rather brash demeanour and confident manner.

But he is committed to the cause, and to his two-year contract. And he can draw on his success as a manager at his previous club Sunderland.

Having been based 150 miles away while at the Stadium of Light, Keane has moved his wife and five children to Suffolk to be on top of the job in hand.

This would appear to rule out any future panic move by the manager to throw in the towel despite his hasty departure from Sunderland and his well publicised return home from a Republic of Ireland Asian world cup base.

And after just seven games of the season - and three points - Blues owner Marcus Evans is not even considering Keane's position after an appointment that gave him and his company such a coup when it was announced.

If Town are still in their current position in a couple of months time things might be different, and if promotion is not obtained this term there will be great pressure on Keane achieving it in 2010/11.

But for the foreseeable future keep your money in your pockets, although a great deal of improving has to be done before a visit to places like Doncaster on Saturday can be looked upon as a likely away win.

Ipswich were heavily supported pre-season to be promoted at 5/2, with the odds for them playing in the Premier League next season now having drifted to 11-1. And Keane is 9-4 to see out the season at Portman Road.

Sky Bet's Helen Jacob said: “Ipswich have made a very slow start to their Championship campaign and given Keane's past managerial record, it would not be a surprise to see him leave his post at Ipswich if a marked improvement isn't made soon.”

Also under pressure are Bolton and Tranmere bosses Gary Megson and John Barnes with Barnes 9-4 on to go first, Megson 3-1 against and Keane 9-2 against.