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Wed 11 Nov 2002Move paves way for Keane to returnAfter weeks of speculation and a day in which the final announcement gradually became little more than a formality, Mick McCarthy met the FAI's leading officials in south Dublin last night to rubber-stamp the deal that ends his reign as manager of the Irish football team.His departure, which all parties insisted was at his own behest, ends a period of sustained speculation that followed the Irish team's poor performances in European Championship qualifiers against Russia and Switzerland and would appear to open the door for Roy Keane's return from international retirement.