Roy Keane would be interested in the vacant managerial post at Nottingham Forest if he was approached by the club's new owners, according to the former Manchester United captain's representative.

Forest are looking to appoint a new manager after the Kuwaiti-based Al-Hasawi family, who took charge at the City Ground a week ago, sacked Steve Cotterill last Thursday.

Former Forest midfielder Keane was immediately installed as one of the favourites to replace Cotterill.

Solicitor Michael Kennedy, who represents the 40-year-old, says Keane would be interested in ending his 18-month exile from management to talk to the club he served for three years as a player in the early 1990s.

"As far as I know, he has not been approached and he has not applied for the job. But I haven't spoken to him about it so I wouldn't know for sure," Kennedy told Press Association Sport.

"I can understand why people would link him with the job, being an old Forest player, but I don't know if he is in the running for it.

"I thought it was Mick McCarthy until yesterday. Or perhaps Glenn Hoddle, according to some reports.

"But what I can say is that I think Roy would be interested if he was approached. He is available and I think it would be a job that would appeal to him."

The Al-Hasawi family have stated their intention to get Forest back into the top flight of English football and are keen to appoint a manager with Championship experience.

Keane, out of management since leaving Ipswich in January 2011, has proved his credentials at that level, transforming Sunderland from relegation battlers when he took over in August 2006 to champions at the end of the season.

Keane's former Republic of Ireland boss McCarthy is thought to have yesterday joined Harry Redknapp in ruling himself out of the running to replace Cotterill following talks with the new owners.

Ex-England head coach Glenn Hoddle and Peterborough's Darren Ferguson have also been linked with the job.

But Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony insists he will not let Ferguson go easily amid reports that Forest are circling.

He told Talksport this afternoon: "If they want him, they have to approach us and pay.

"Do I want to lose him? No way. Will I lose him? Eventually yes because he's a hell of a manager.

"If we have a good season then next year Darren Ferguson will be managing in the Premier League.

"But they've (Forest) never approached us. They may do today, they may do tomorrow, I don't know what they're thinking."