Potential Dundalk Manager

[oriel]

'Back into the pack' that's brightened up my day ! Well played.

[Ezeikial]

I think peak 6 will go outside the loi , there was plenty of talk of Kenny looking for a way out as peak 6 weren't convinced he was the man for th e project.


How dundalk react to losing kenny may or may not bring them back into the pack.

If history tells us anything, dynasties don't last too long in the loi.

Losing the manager who has delivered a haul of trophies, some brilliant football and a number of unforgettable European occasions makes it a difficult and uncertain time for Dundalk FC football fans.

But posts like the above provide a touch of unintended comic relief that help raise the spirits.

[2 Year Contract]

Losing the manager who has delivered a haul of trophies, some brilliant football and a number of unforgettable European occasions makes it a difficult and uncertain time for Dundalk FC football fans.

Rest assured, the hearts of every other fan in the league goes out to you all, it must be so difficult being a Dundalk fan these days

[sbgawa]

No comedy in my post EZ if peak 6 had tried hard enough I can't see Kenny leaving for Noel kings job and a promise. I think they were wrong but it is what it is.
Maybe the whispers where wrong but I doubt it.
Either way with the budget dfc have the new manager will have a hard job to f it up from here.

[micls]

Either way with the budget dfc have the new manager will have a hard job to f it up from here.

Whoever comes in is in a great position but at least now there's a chance. Managerial change is always risky. A month ago I was a bit convinced dundalk were winning the league for the next 5 years and getting to the group stages again. Now, who knows. Especially in terms of Europe. That's where its not as straightforward as meaning the biggest budget in our league will mean you do well.

Lots of calls for Keith Long on the Dundalk forum. Thats the kind of appointment that really gives the rest of us a shot. He's a good manager but zero European experience and a different kettle of fish altogether working with the best players in the league vs getting the best out of youngsters.

[The Lilywhites]

Lots of calls for Keith Long on the Dundalk forum. Thats the kind of appointment that really gives the rest of us a shot. He's a good manager but zero European experience and a different kettle of fish altogether working with the best players in the league vs getting the best out of youngsters.

Can't see what Long has achieved as a manager to earn the Dundalk job. Bohs were rubbish for a lot of the season - showed up for the derbies and had that unbeaten run. Shouldn't even be considered.

[Ezeikial]

Lots of calls for Keith Long on the Dundalk forum. Thats the kind of appointment that really gives the rest of us a shot. He's a good manager but zero European experience and a different kettle of fish altogether working with the best players in the league vs getting the best out of youngsters.

I don't want to unduly dash your hopes but Keith Long has been just one of many names floated by fans. Some are mischievous and others are complete brain-farts.

While posters on Oriel Web wont be making the appointment here is the list so far:



Brian Kerr
Ian Barraclough
Keith Long
Vinny Perth
Trevor Croly
Collie O'Neill
Roy Keane
Bob Bradley
Alexi Lalas
Paul Doolin
Kenny Shiels
Brian Gartland
Alan Reynolds
Simone Perrotta

[Pablo Escobar]

Please, please Roy Keane. If this league wasn't interesting enough already...... :D

[osarusan]

Would Dundalm fans be interested in Kerr?

[Ezeikial]

Would Dundalm fans be interested in Kerr?

Some would and some would not. But, as is normal, the fans will not be making the appointment

[Jack B]

It is a bit of a conundrum, who's a realistic and able replacement. I feel like all LOI names distinctly pale in comparison to Kenny, and it's just hard to gauge what level of name Dundalk could attract from outside the league.

If I were a Dundalk fan I'd be massively underwhelmed with Long, but at the same time I can't really think of anyone that'd fill me with confidence of being able to build on what Kenny has. Maybe Perth for continuity sake?

[oriel]

I would think the new owners of Dundalk be looking for a high profile man witn a lot of experience and one who will be suited for european games.

i wouldnt be suprised to see them making contact with the previous owners also and as quick as this weekend for their input.

[Pablo Escobar]

I would think the new owners of Dundalk be looking for a high profile man witn a lot of experience and one who will be suited for european games.

i wouldnt be suprised to see them making contact with the previous owners also and as quick as this weekend for their input.

In other words, someone who hasn't a clue about the league. I'm sold on this idea.

[bennocelt]

I don't want to unduly dash your hopes but Keith Long has been just one of many names floated by fans. Some are mischievous and others are complete brain-farts.

While posters on Oriel Web wont be making the appointment here is the list so far:


Alexi Lalas? Eh, what?

[Dalymountrower]

Can't see what Long has achieved as a manager to earn the Dundalk job. Bohs were rubbish for a lot of the season - showed up for the derbies and had that unbeaten run. Shouldn't even be considered.

Keep us out of it. Reynolds is a shoe in.

[oriel]

In other words, someone who hasn't a clue about the league. I'm sold on this idea.

I never said the appointment would come from outside the league, but it would make good sense for P6 to use the services of the previous owners to draw up a shortlist, they were the guys who got Kenny onboard in the first place. If there is no suitable candidate in Ireland though, they will have no choice to look abroad at that point.

This is probably the biggest job in Irish club football, so id be expecting very strong interest.

[EatYerGreens]

The best thing for Derry and Pats as clubs is not to continually **** off the FAI,

I'd disagree and say that the best thing for Irish domestic football would be for more clubs to grow a pair of balls and stand up to the FAI when they're taking the p!ss.

It worked for the women's international team.

It worked for the PFAI over the £300,000 fund for unpaid wages.

But LOI clubs are largely either in Delaney's pocket one way or another, or more interested in trying to get one over other clubs than they are in forcing the FAI to genuinely back the league. So the league continues to get shabby treatment from those responsible for improving it.

[Martinho II]

Alan Reynolds on the advice of Kenny is the rumour in Waterford.

would make sense kenny signed alan reynolds when longford town manager and wasnt reynolds a scout at derry city on kennys watch?

[Martinho II]

It is a bit of a conundrum, who's a realistic and able replacement. I feel like all LOI names distinctly pale in comparison to Kenny, and it's just hard to gauge what level of name Dundalk could attract from outside the league.

If I were a Dundalk fan I'd be massively underwhelmed with Long, but at the same time I can't really think of anyone that'd fill me with confidence of being able to build on what Kenny has. Maybe Perth for continuity sake?

perth wont get it as he doesnt have the necessary documentation. baraclough surely should be the man. if declan devine can leave the IFA so can Baraclough!

[sbgawa]

I'd disagree and say that the best thing for Irish domestic football would be for more clubs to grow a pair of balls and stand up to the FAI when they're taking the p!ss.

It worked for the women's international team.

It worked for the PFAI over the £300,000 fund for unpaid wages.

But LOI clubs are largely either in Delaney's pocket one way or another, or more interested in trying to get one over other clubs than they are in forcing the FAI to genuinely back the league. So the league continues to get shabby treatment from those responsible for improving it.

I'd have no problem with the club's complaining but the issues pats and Derry chose were stupid

[EatYerGreens]

I'd have no problem with the club's complaining but the issues pats and Derry chose were stupid

At least they spoke up about something. The rest seem to follow some sort of omerta code re the FAI.

[Azrob Spooh]

How about an in house appointment step forward Stephen O'Donnell

[Ezeikial]

How about an in house appointment step forward Stephen O'Donnell

I suspect in time he will make a marvelous manager, but his time has not yet come. For starters he doesn't have the Pro Licence and has no senior management or coaching experience.

[marinobohs]

I think peak 6 will go outside the loi , there was plenty of talk of Kenny looking for a way out as peak 6 weren't convinced he was the man for th e project. If they didn't have faith in him who else in the league ?
Explains why he would leave dfc for the 21's and an FAI " promise" of the main job

Well, if it's a "project" Peak 6 have in mind there is only one possible choice- cup final expert and serial loser, Bradley. Surely his moment has come to manage a big club 😁

[sparky12345678]

Do you mean into second place ? I wouldn't rule out P6 not dipping into their funds as early as this pre season, it has to be in their interest to keep the football side as strong as possible. Seeded in CL r1 would give a good opportunity to play and get paid on 3 rounds and min 1.2m.

Also if Dundalk win the league next year, even if they win through 2 rounds it will almost guarantee future seeding for at least 2 more years and more earnings, I think it could last a bit longer. The gap will surely get bigger then between where they'll be and clubs who are in the EL ?

It definitely shows the importance of consistently winning the league or getting 1 or 2 club coeff points each year. This year they are likely to be seeded which one would hope means at least one win etc.

[Ezeikial]

Gavin McLaughlin gives on update




Vinny Perth, who has been Kenny’s number two since he took the reins at Oriel Park just over six years ago, is believed to have returned from Galway to meet the Dubliner face to face. Perth signed a three-year deal last season and is one of the front runners to replace Kenny, even though he does not hold a pro-licence.


Assistant coach Ruaidhri Higgins, who turned down a move to Derry City recently, is also under contract for the next two seasons and is likely to be part of any new management set-up.

From a playing point of view, Dundalk are entering the Christmas period in a position of strength. New deals for Dane Massey and Robbie Benson are in the pipeline with O’Donnell and Ronan Murray the only squad members currently mulling over their future.

Treacy is understood to have flown in from Chicago for a meeting with players and staff members in the Ballymascanlon on Sunday evening and with pre-season just over five weeks away, the League of Ireland champions are determined to press ahead with business and not become sidetracked by the events of recent days.



https://dundalksport.ie/dfc-search-for-kennys-successor-underway-at-oriel-park-754e24f6c4d3

[Longfordian]

How can Vinny be one of the front runners if he doesn’t have a pro licence? It’s not possible at the moment (barring the FAI not enforcing their own rules, which I suppose is a slim possibility). I wouldn’t give it to him yet anyway with the options that Dundalk will have. I always liked him as a person from the limited engagements I had with him, and from everything everyone has ever said about him, he was loved at LTFC. But I think he may be better off proving himself somewhere else if he actually wants to be a manager.

[marinobohs]

How can Vinny be one of the front runners if he doesn’t have a pro licence? It’s not possible at the moment (barring the FAI not enforcing their own rules, which I suppose is a slim possibility). I wouldn’t give it to him yet anyway with the options that Dundalk will have. I always liked him as a person from the limited engagements I had with him, and from everything everyone has ever said about him, he was loved at LTFC. But I think he may be better off proving himself somewhere else if he actually wants to be a manager.

Might they 'do' an Ireland on it, appointing somebody more experienced and have Vinny Perth as Asst Manager until he (a) gets a pro licence and (b) gets some more experience under his belt ? someone like Kerr would fit the bill.

[dundalkfc10]

How can Vinny be one of the front runners if he doesn’t have a pro licence? It’s not possible at the moment (barring the FAI not enforcing their own rules, which I suppose is a slim possibility). I wouldn’t give it to him yet anyway with the options that Dundalk will have. I always liked him as a person from the limited engagements I had with him, and from everything everyone has ever said about him, he was loved at LTFC. But I think he may be better off proving himself somewhere else if he actually wants to be a manager.

Mike Neville U-19 mangaer has the right badges, expected he will be named head coach and Pert and Stevie O (player/coach) will take over

[brendy_éire]

would make sense kenny signed alan reynolds when longford town manager and wasnt reynolds a scout at derry city on kennys watch?

Kenny's assistant, he was.

[joey B]

Are Dundalk unhappy with Kenny leaving? Able to release statements about squad players leaving but not a word on the best manager they've ever had......

[Yossarian]

Are Dundalk unhappy with Kenny leaving? Able to release statements about squad players leaving but not a word on the best manager they've ever had......

Whatever about not releasing a statement, of course Dundalk aren’t happy about him leaving. Particularly as the FAI didn’t even contact the club before negotiating with their manager.

[joey B]

Complete lack of respect shown if that was the case,Kenny has to take part of the blame aswell not only one side in the negotiations.

[joey B]

Just released a statement!!

[Asterix]

Just released a statement!!

Must be the shortest statement about a manager leaving released. Seems very bitter, don't even acknowledge hes left them for the under 21s.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Whatever about not releasing a statement, of course Dundalk aren’t happy about him leaving. Particularly as the FAI didn’t even contact the club before negotiating with their manager.

Is there any source for this?

[Buller]

Best of luck Kenny. Big loss to the league. As a fellow League of Ireland supporter, may I offer some advice recommend Roddy Collins for the position he leaves behind.
Its a massive gap to fill, but there is noone more qualified than Roddy to carry on Kennys work. Roddy has experience at many LoI Ireland clubs over the years and is definitely the right man to lead Dundalk forward into a new prosperous era of success.

[SkStu]

Best of luck Kenny. Big loss to the league. As a fellow League of Ireland supporter, may I offer some advice recommend Roddy Collins for the position he leaves behind.
Its a massive gap to fill, but there is noone more qualified than Roddy to carry on Kennys work. Roddy has experience at many LoI Ireland clubs over the years and is definitely the right man to lead Dundalk forward into a new prosperous era of success.

Could I just add that Sean Connor would make an excellent #2 to Roddy? The dream team so to speak. If you have any ambition to take it to the next level, you know what you have to do.

[El-Pietro]

Whatever about not releasing a statement, of course Dundalk aren’t happy about him leaving. Particularly as the FAI didn’t even contact the club before negotiating with their manager.
To be fair, Stephen spent the entirety of last week letting everyone who would listen know he wanted the senior job. Its not like the FAI came knocking on his door.

[EatYerGreens]

Complete lack of respect shown if that was the case,Kenny has to take part of the blame aswell not only one side in the negotiations.

There's a protocol there in football, which involves a club being asked before another party speaks to their under contract manager/player.

It wasn't Kenny's job to do that task for the FAI.

Ironic that the governing body of Irish football aren't even setting an example re the rules here.

[TonyD]

So according to Delaney the FAI are not paying any compensation and Dundalk have "been brilliant." How do Dundalk supporters feel about that ? Would be seriously unimpressed if it was my club. Mind you, could be just Delaney talking nonsense again.

[Asterix]

Kenny would have had a clause put into his contract at dundalk if theres no compensation so nothing they can do it about it now.

[Ezeikial]

So according to Delaney the FAI are not paying any compensation and Dundalk have "been brilliant." How do Dundalk supporters feel about that ? Would be seriously unimpressed if it was my club. Mind you, could be just Delaney talking nonsense again.

It is looking like Stephen Kenny had a release clause in the contract he signed in August 2017 which allowed him to take up the international job without compensation. While the exact contract details are obviously not in the public domain, this comes as no major surprise as Stephen Kenny was in a very strong negotiating position in 2017 and clearly wanted to able to pursue his ambition if the opportunity presented itself.

The issue of no compensation pales into insignificance with the loss of the significant skills set of the man. The biggest compensation factors for fans are that he leaves the club in a amazingly strong position form all sorts of perspectives - a settled squad that has just won the double and has set a whole tranche of records in the season gone by; a club that is cash rich with a strong backroom staff and qualified for the Champions League with a coefficient that is also certain to give seeding in the early qualifying rounds.

If the club retain and promote from within there is really no apparent reason why the club cant continue to build on what he has achieved so far - short odds favourites for retaining the league title indicate that the bookies market may also agree.

While I am easily irked by John Delaney and his manipulating spoof at the best of times, much of his outrageous spinning around this appointment annoys the heck out of me

[micls]

I don't think the owners concerns will be so much about retaining the league, which I think you certainly are odds on for, but European progression. Its a huge ask of an in experienced manager, even if they have been involved under Kenny. The main job is a different story.

There must be the temptation to bring in experience from outside for Europe, but that comes with the risk of them not understanding the league too. Not an easy call.

[TonyD]

It is looking like Stephen Kenny had a release clause in the contract he signed in August 2017 which allowed him to take up the international job without compensation. While the exact contract details are obviously not in the public domain, this comes as no major surprise as Stephen Kenny was in a very strong negotiating position in 2017 and clearly wanted to able to pursue his ambition if the opportunity presented itself.


If that's the case then fair enough,not much the club could do. As you say, he was in a very strong negotiating position.

[EatYerGreens]

There must be the temptation to bring in experience from outside for Europe, but that comes with the risk of them not understanding the league too. Not an easy call.

Is Irish football really that unfathomable though ?

If someone is good at understanding the game, why would they not pick up any relevant local idiosyncrasies quickly ?

[osarusan]

Yeah, I'd say that somebody capable of getting into the Europa league group stages should be able to work out LOI pretty quickly, or else bring in somebody to advise them on that.

Until Kenny left, I though Dundalk were on the verge of dominating LOI football for a good few years - everything was falling into place perfectly for them.

And they still can do that, with the right replacement as manager. Tbh, I'm surprised that somebody as inexperienced as Perth is getting the job.

[marinobohs]

If that's the case then fair enough,not much the club could do. As you say, he was in a very strong negotiating position.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that Tony.Even if Kenny was free to talk to the FAI is it really that difficult for one of Delaney's Donkeys to pick up the phone and make a courtesy call to Dundalk ? Dundalk are, after all, the reigning Champions and surely deserve a bit more consideration than that.

[micls]

Is Irish football really that unfathomable though ?

If someone is good at understanding the game, why would they not pick up any relevant local idiosyncrasies quickly ?

Not at all, but in any league the majority of managers take a bit of time, to get to know the players, potential signings, opposition etc.

You've the odd managers who goes into a completely new league and wins all around them straight off, but it's rare enough.

And the expectation going in at a minimum would be retaining the league. With Europe obviously being the big goal. There aren't a whole pile of managers out there within dundalks reach who have been successful in Europe. It's a big ask.

It also makes it a very attractive job though.

[marinobohs]

Yeah, I'd say that somebody capable of getting into the Europa league group stages should be able to work out LOI pretty quickly, or else bring in somebody to advise them on that.

Until Kenny left, I though Dundalk were on the verge of dominating LOI football for a good few years - everything was falling into place perfectly for them.

And they still can do that, with the right replacement as manager. Tbh, I'm surprised that somebody as inexperienced as Perth is getting the job.

I suspect what Perth (no doubt talented) mostly brings is a sense of continuity. with everything moving in the right direction for Dundalk it may well be they want to continue with as little fuss (given the manger is going) as possible. A new (outside the club) manager, however good, may want to bring his own ideas and/or style and that could disrupt what Dundalk currently have.