Keane told he would only have been hired as manager to boost Netflix viewers

That is according to the Black Cats' co-owner Juan Sartori, who has delivered a dig at the Manchester United legend as to why he was overlooked two years ago.

Keane, who won the Championship at the Stadium of Light in 2007, interviewed for the job in early 2022 following Lee Johnson's sacking.

But with Sunderland chasing promotion from League One, the club decided to bring in Alex Neil, who would end their four-year stay in the third-tier.

A third season of smash-hit Netflix docuseries 'Sunderland 'Til I Die' returns to screens next week, which will detail their promotion-winning 2021/22 campaign.

And Sartori, who alongside Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has a 36 per cent stake in the club, has stated why Keane was ultimately snubbed for the position.

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Addressing the Irishman, he said: "Roy Keane would have been fun.

"It definitely would have been good for the Netflix series, but maybe we would have had a third season of disastrous finishes!"

Speaking at the time, Keane, who hasn't managed since being sacked by Ipswich in January 2011, confessed his return wasn't written in the stars.

He remarked: "The deal has to be right for everyone. It didn't fall into place last week.

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"Everything has to be right - the right challenge, the right contract. You have to fancy it."

Since his being axed at Portman Road, Keane has held held coaching position with the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

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And during a discussion with Frank Lampard on the 'Stick to Football' podcast last month, Keane once again stressed he would not rush his decision in coming back to the dugout.

He said: "It's got to be the right club, it's got to be the right contract, can you bring your staff or not?

"I discuss this all the time. I have had opportunities but sometimes you get offered a contract, I go back and look at it if I do get offered stuff, a bit of self worth. Is the deal right for you?

"I'd like to go back in, but I'm not desperate where I'd sign any contract for anybody."