Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory have refused to comment on speculation linking Roy Keane with the vacant manager’s job.

Rumours about the former Ipswich Town boss taking charge of Melbourne surfaced when Keane was spotted in the stands of Sydney FC’s match with Shanghai Shenhua at the Sydney Football Stadium.

But the club are keeping coy about the prospect with a spokesman saying: “We won’t be commenting on speculation regarding the coaching position. Suffice to say, we still have a long way to go in the process of appointing a coach.”

One national newspaper claimed Keane is in Australia finalising the deal after the club sacked Ernie Merrick following a disastrous Asian Champions League campaign.

Acknowledging that it was just speculation at present, Keane’s former Manchester United team mate and now-Australian commentator Mark Bosnich said: “It would be a fantastic coup for the A-League, a fantastic coup for Melbourne Victory. (It’s) not only a good story, but it would be very good for the A-League, football and sport in this country. Let’s hope that something does eventuate from it.”

Last month, it was claimed that Keane was interested in buying the cash-strapped Blue Square Bet Premier side Cambridge United.