Keane's appointment could be announced as early as today after a weekend of productive talks between the club and the former Irish international's representative, solicitor Michael Kennedy.

The Sunday Tribune understands that there was fury among members of the Irish consortium which recently purchased Sunderland when news of Keane's impending appointment was leaked last week. At one point, the leak almost jeopardised the deal.

"As you know, Keane is very sensitive to having any details of his private deals aired in public, " a source close to the consortium said. "The wagging tongues didn't help".

Since then, Sunderland has refused to even mention Keane's name, lest the deal be endangered again. Even up to yesterday, club chairman Niall Quinn refused to publicly identify Keane as the "world class individual" they were trying to get.

The source also said there was now "no conflict" between Keane and Quinn, who very publicly fell out when Keane was sent home from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup training camp in Saipan four years ago.

It is unclear whether Keane would accept any offer of equity in Sunderland AFC, given that the club is 60m in debt.

His prospective appointment brings with it a number of ironies. As well as agreeing to being employed by chairman Quinn, the Corkman will also be taking over from former Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy, who quit the Sunderland job earlier this year.

McCarthy sent Keane home from Saipan four years ago and is now the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sunderland and Wolves are scheduled to play each other in November.