Keane to become Victory coach - reports

Former Manchester United star Roy Keane is in line to become Melbourne Victory's next coach in Australia's A-League, reports said on Thursday.

Keane, who was sacked by English League Championship Ipswich Town in January, was in Melbourne to finalise his contract, English media reports said.

The volatile 39-year-old Irishman was seen in the crowd in Sydney watching Sydney FC's AFC Asian Champions League game against Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

But Keane, who is on holiday with his family in Australia, avoided journalists who attempted to ask him questions by repeatedly moving seats, Fox Sports said.

Melbourne Victory late Thursday declined to comment on the speculation linking Keane to the vacant job.

But Australian Associated Press reported Keane is expected to hold informal talks by the weekend with Victory officials about the position.

Ernie Merrick, who had coached Victory since its first season in the A-League in 2005/6, was sacked on March 12.

Keane, the former United captain and a combative midfielder who also represented the Republic of Ireland for 14 years, began his managerial career with English Championship team Sunderland in 2006.

He took the Black Cats from the bottom of the table to win the title and promotion to the Premier League.

Keane resigned in December 2008 after a string of losses and took over the management of Ipswich Town in April 2009.

Keane won a UEFA Champions League, seven English Premier League titles and four FA Cups during a glittering 12-year playing career with Manchester United.

Melbourne Victory have won two A-League titles, but were knocked out in the opening round of this season's play-offs and Merrick was sacked not long after.