Possible destinations: Emmet Malone looks at the options open to the former united captain

After several hours of feverish speculation in the British media and mounting excitement amongst their fans, Celtic issued what might best be described as a "Come and be got by us plea," to Roy Keane yesterday, the club confirming through its website it would be interested in talking to the 34-year-old Corkman about his future.

"Roy Keane was a magnificent player and servant for Manchester United but he also knows all about Celtic," an unnamed club spokesman was quoted.

"If at any time," the the statement continued, "Roy would like to speak to us about his future and Celtic's, we would be only too happy to speak to him, but as yet there have been no discussions."

The comments follow informal ones of a similar nature made by senior club sources earlier in the day to local journalists.

With news of the player's departure coming too late for Gordon Strachan's press conference yesterday, the manager maintained his silence through the day, but others at Celtic Park made it clear they would be anxious to capitalise on the sudden turn of events at Old Trafford.

Keane, of course, has repeatedly been linked with a move to Glasgow after saying in a number of interviews he would like to finish his career with the club. He repeatedly said, though, that his preference was to stay at Old Trafford and that such a move could only come about when the day came that Manchester United no longer wanted him.

While Celtic made little secret of their interest in pursuing the Corkman now that Alex Ferguson's long-standing affection for him has indeed finally been exhausted, it was equally clear yesterday that Keane's departure was in no way connected with the vacant Ireland manager's post.

There was complete surprise within Merrion Square at the news of his newly acquired free-agent status but a feeling that nothing bar his availability had really changed.

With the player having made it clear he wants to continue playing for at least another year and with the association in the market for a proven manager it is considered highly unlikely either party would come around sufficiently to consider the possibility of his succeeding Brian Kerr.

The names of other potential employers multiplied as the day wore on yesterday, with Portsmouth the first club to officially express an interest in acquiring the midfielder.

Middlesbrough, Bolton, West Brom, whose manager Bryan Robson was rumoured to have met Keane yesterday afternoon, and even Manchester City were among many reported would-be suitors.

At 34, and with a succession of serious injuries having seriously restricted his contribution at United in recent years, the player is clearly not what he was. He would not, after all, be available if he still possessed the talent that was so central to Manchester United's greatness in the late 1990s. He remains, however, a player of considerable quality and would be a highly attractive target to many big British clubs.

Neither Arsenal nor Chelsea, United's chief premiership rivals, would be expected to express any interest in the player, however, although Arsene Wenger did describe the news as a blow to United.

"He was certainly their most influential player in the last 10 years," said the Frenchman.

A move to the continent is another possibility but it seems improbable.

Once again Keane's decline over the past couple of seasons would almost certainly mean the options open would be restricted to what might be described as second-tier clubs.

More importantly, perhaps, Keane has five children and it would be a surprise if he were willing to subject them to such a dramatic upheaval for what little remains of his playing career.