Man Utd legend Roy Keane snubbed return to management with Sunderland due to the length of the contract offered

ROY KEANE rejected a return to management with old club Sunderland because of the length of the contract.

The Black Cats would only guarantee the Sky Sports pundit a position for the season.

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Keane was not happy with the length of contract he was offered by Sunderland[/caption]

Keane, 50, would have needed to shelve his lucrative TV deal to risk it all on gaining League One promotion.

The Irishman was not concerned about the drop in wages but there was no chance for him to plan ahead with the initial suggestion of a short-term stay.

Grant McCann was also offered a similar short deal, likewise stalwart Neil Warnock.

In the end Alex Neil took the post on a reported one-year rolling contract.

Keane initially looked set to agree a move to Sunderland when he appeared on ITV amid speculation over a Black Cats return.

But when asked why a deal fell through, he told The Overlap Live in Manchester: “The deal has to be right for everyone.  It didn’t fall into place last week. It wasn’t meant to be. 

“Everything has to be right – the right challenge, the right contract. You have to fancy it.

“I’ve not had the opportunity the last few years. There has not been a club where I think, ‘I’m the right fit for that club’.

He also insisted he is happy to continue as a pundit if the right managerial move does not become available.

“If I don’t get another chance, it’s no big deal,” he added.

“You need a bit of luck. The right club has to give you the call. That hasn’t happened. It’s no big deal.”