First Blackburn, now Bolton are fixing their eyes on Roy and Big Mick

If the rumour mill across the water is to be believed, Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy are the hottest names on the radar of Championship clubs these days.

Both Roy and big Mick were linked with the vacant managerial position at Blackburn following the departure of Steve Kean recently and with Owen Coyle now given the boot at Bolton, the two former Irish captains are believed to be in the frame to take over the Trotters.

Numerous sources linked Keane and McCarthy to the job even before Coyle’s sacking and the speculation has increased since Coyle’s departure was confirmed earlier today.

Keane turned down Turkish side Kasimpasa lately due to family reasons, even if it had been hinted that his rejection of the job was because of the opportunities that had arisen closer to home.

When it comes to Bolton, however, the bookies reckon that McCarthy is far more likely to succeed Coyle, with most outlets offering odds of evens or close to evens that big Mick will be given the gig ahead of the likes of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Alex McLeish and Billy Davies.

McCarthy, of course, has plenty of experience at both Championship and Premier League level and if he’s responsible for more clips like this one – yes we’ve featured it on nearly every Mick McCarthy story on these pages, but it’s so good we’ll continue to do so – his appointment would be more than welcome.