FORMER Sunderland manager Roy Keane has targeted promotion to the Premier League at the earliest opportunity after taking over at Ipswich Town.

The former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder has signed a two-year contract with the Coca-Cola Championship side, who sacked former boss Jim Magilton yesterday.

The 37-year-old has been out of work since departing as Sunderland manager last December.

Keane told the club's official website itfc.co.uk: "I truly believe that I am joining a club that has the potential, ambition and infrastructure to once again be a Premier League side.

"The club's owner (Marcus Evans) and chief executive (Simon Clegg) impressed upon me their total focus on achieving this quest at the earliest opportunity and I can't wait to get started."

Magilton fell victim to the Portman Road regime's top-flight aspirations yesterday when he was sacked as Ipswich manager after failing to lead them into the Championship play-offs.

That followed a £12m, Evans-funded spending spree on new players following the hospitality entrepreneur's takeover late in 2007.

However, the new investment failed to produce a concerted push for promotion, as the Tractor Boys were consigned to mid-table and an eighth straight season in the second tier.

Evans said: "I am delighted that Roy has agreed to join us and we are completely aligned in our ambitions for Ipswich Town.

"He has extensive contacts in the game and is a proven winner who encourages his team to play the attractive football that Ipswich Town fans have come to expect.

"I believe he is the right man to take this club where we want to be - the Premier League."

Keane arrives with a 100 per cent record of Championship promotion.

In his first season as a manager in 2006-07, the ex-Republic of Ireland captain transformed Sunderland from early strugglers to champions as he took the Black Cats back into the Premier League.

Newcastle boss Alan Shearer wished his former foe luck - but admitted Keane's appointment was hardly uppermost in his thoughts.

The former Magpies skipper and his Manchester United counterpart locked horns on many occasions during their playing careers, sometimes to explosive effect.

Shearer is currently attempting to drag Newcastle out of the relegation mire just a few miles up the road from where Keane took his first steps in management.

He said: "I'm not really interested, I have got more important things to worry about, to be honest.

But I wish him well."