Roy Keane: It's Good To Be Back

Roy Keane was today confirmed as the new manager of Championship outfit Ipswich Town, marking a return to management for the controversial Irishman who parted from previous club Sunderland with a fair degree of acrimony some five months ago.

However, Keane looked relaxed and sun-tanned at a press conference marking his appointment today, as Ipswich's chief executive Simon Clegg spoke in glowing terms of his "exciting and dynamic" appointment marking a "new era" for the Tractor Boys.

The new boss himself was assertive as ever as he answered questions from reporters about his feelings on his new job.

"[It's] just a massive challenge, trying to get the club back into the Premiership," he said.

"[I'm] excited, looking forward to it. I've had a good break, really enjoyed my time off, but when the opportunity came in the last 24 hours I was ready for it.

"I enjoyed getting on the training pitch with the players and the staff. It's good to be back.

When asked if he had missed football during his time off, Keane insisted not, but had begun to feel a hankering to return to action in recent weeks.

"As I said, I've had five and half months off relaxing, spending time with my family, treating myself," he explained.

"But I just knew, probably three to four weeks ago, if the opportunity came up to go back into it and it was the right challenge, I was ready for it. And I'm ready for it."

As to whether he had received other offers, Keane was forceful in a his reply, a terse "yes" ending further discussion. However, he was more verbose and specific in enumerating his reasons for joining Town, a club who won the UEFA Cup in 1981 and have a tradition of good football and success that stretches through several generations and includes the likes of Bobby Robson and George Burley in its story.

"Lots of reasons, obviously," Keane continued. "My gut feeling, the ambition of the club, the history of the club.

"Again, a proper football club. I'm very lucky to get this opportunity."

And there was a flash of the familiar fire in the Irishman's eyes when one correspondent pointed out that with a two year contract, surely reaching the Premier League in that time span was a tough challenge.

"I'd like to try and do it in one year," Keane affirmed. "If I wasn't up for challenges I'd be out walking my dogs today."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com