Manchester United's Roy Keane shouts during their English Premier League soccer match against Everton at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, August 13 2005. [Reuters]

Captain Roy Keane says he is likely to leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

The Ireland midfielder's contract runs out in June 2006 and he does not expect to be offered a fresh deal.

"I would be surprised if United offered me a new contract. It's my gut feeling," Keane told the club's in-house TV station on Thursday.

"If United did offer me a contract it would be around April and that would be too late. I would like to have something sorted out in January.

"I would like to play on for another year or two and it would be good experience for me to play at another club or in another country."

But Keane said he would find it difficult to play for another Premier League side.

"When I say playing for another team, I can't see it being an English team. That would be hard to stomach," he said.

"I would like to get into coaching and experiencing a different dressing room would help that. I will be 35 in the summer and there are good players coming through at United and the time would be right."

(Agencies)