RELEGATED Sunderland, facing stiff competition from Aston Villa for Celtic midfielder Colin Healy, have been told they are in the running for the new Roy Keane.

Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy is hoping to secure the services of free agent Healy, as revealed in Northern Echo Sport a fortnight ago.

But Villa counterpart David O'Leary has similar designs on the Republic of Ireland international.

Everton are also in the hunt for 23-year-old Healy, whose agent Mel Stein has compared him to former Republic captain Keane.

Stein confirmed: "Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland are the clubs in the frame at the moment and we will see how things develop in the next week or so.

"David O'Leary has made it clear that he is very keen on Colin and that is an interesting development as far as we are concerned, because Aston Villa are a big club.''

Stein added: "I have to say that any club not interested in taking Colin on a free is out of their box in my opinion.

"I believe he is the new Roy Keane - and I don't say that lightly.''

l Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid must dispose of his shares in the club to ward off the threat of both the Black Cats and Leeds, who he joined last season, being banned from the FA Cup.

When he was sacked after seven-and-a-half years as Sunderland boss last October, Reid retained his shareholding.

After taking charge of Leeds, the Premier League ruled that Reid could keep his stake in Sunderland. But Football Association rules outlaw any party from holding a stake in more than one club, because of a potential conflict of interests.

With Sunderland's share price having fallen to 55p, Reid's 428,000 holding is now worth £235,400.

* Reid is poised to appoint Adrian Heath as chief scout at Elland Road.

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