Sky Sports News sources understand Roy Keane will be named the new Ipswich Town manager within the next 24 hours.

Ipswich sacked Jim Magilton on Wednesday following the club''s failure to make the play-offs in the Championship this season.

New chief executive Simon Clegg told Sky Sports News that Town were close to appointing a successor to Magilton at Portman Road.

Former Sunderland boss Keane is now understood to be on the brink of accepting a return to management with Ipswich.

Keane left his role at the Stadium of Light back in December, having spent just over two years in charge on Wearside.

During

his time at the Black Cats helm, Keane led Sunderland from the bottom

of the Championship to promotion to the Premier League in his first

season.

The Irishman secured a 15th place finish in the top

flight last term, but had presided over a disappointing run of form

before his exit in early December.

Glenn Hoddle had been

installed as the early favourite to take the Ipswich job, however it

now appears that Keane will attempt to repeat the success he enjoyed at

Sunderland with Ipswich.