2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

[Nesta99]

Yeah I’d agree. Buckley was brilliant, especially from 2012 to 2015, but I think his time has passed. As for Stephen Kenny, as good as his record is in the league, I can’t help wondering if he has been somewhat damaged by his time with the national team. It was a rough time fo him, and he wouldn’t be human if it didn’t knock his confidence somewhat. Having said that, of course if he wants it we’d have to take him, but I don’t think he would come with any guarantees. Not sure what other candidates I’d favour.

I feel a bit sorry for Jon Daly. He did a good job last season, and I liked the way he conducted himself. Clearly something wasn’t right this year. Whether he could have turned it around, who knows.

I dont think I have ever seen a manager so meek as SK when he ook the Dundalk job, he grew in to the job as his team did and he wasnt far off a league win in his 1st season, was a different man in front of the cameras there after. He is an emotional and passionate man, not naturally abrasive as can be needed under media pressure. I actually dont think he is at such a low point after the national job, he believes he achieved something and he arguably did devekop the bones of a squad, created some depth - right job wrong time type stuff, worldwide pandemic chucked in there for luck, he'll have been seriiously disappointed but seems to have marked it off as personal development, experience. He's backed himself looking for a higher profile job, time will tell whether others willl do the same. I do hope he takes on media training, even do some punditry for a bit as his greatest admirers, biggest critics and potential suiters abroad would have watched some of those post match interviews and press conferences and it was tough viewing at times. Its a risk for any LoI club appointing him tbh as his ambition would see him leave for a league club in England if someone wanted to take a punt and sure all he has to do is give a months notice and off he goes.

I think Daly should have been given a bit more time, St Pats have deep pockets and dont absolutely need European qualification to panic change a manager. For sure the owner wants to win trophies but there is wriggle room that other clubs dont always have financially. The tone of the club statement may indicate a rift, no interim talk that ive seen yet so maybe a plan is in place.



Pats should go for Joey O'Brien. He's gonna make a great manager one day I feel,and he's as responsible for the recent upward curve in shels as duff.

You may well have just ruined O'Brien's future in management PC;)

[Jd2793]

Keith long an outside shout for pats i wonder? is there still a lot up in the air down in waterford with regards owner + funding etc ?

[ger121]

The Kenny one is interesting. He is out of work since November and probably wanted a short break. However, so far he has not managed to get one of these ‘overseas’ roles that he seems to be so interested in taking. 6 months have passed and still nothing. I get the impression the offers haven’t exactly been flooding in. We saw with Kerr post Ireland. He got the Faroes job and then nothing…

[nr637]

Ticket Information for Cobh Ramblers FC versus Cork City – St. Colman’s Park Friday 10th May

https://cobhramblers.ie/ticket_information_cobh_ramblers_cork_city_friday_ 10th_may/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1ZDM7Yk2dy-d_I8p2CBxvgKqV95wrqHSP53RNJa-TiLP7HE5mQCGTDqwM_aem_ARv98kq03-4gdWw1X3jGzbzef4NrRbRZ96b6cSRcuhwVXu-5JQxW7hZQDp8VYO4oPiqIt7Cj9-1PyvdKZYaZ2Tbl

Safe capacity was agreed at 3,000 with 300 allocated for away support this has now been increased to 600 after requests from Cork City.

[Jd2793]

Ticket Information for Cobh Ramblers FC versus Cork City – St. Colman’s Park Friday 10th May

https://cobhramblers.ie/ticket_information_cobh_ramblers_cork_city_friday_ 10th_may/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1ZDM7Yk2dy-d_I8p2CBxvgKqV95wrqHSP53RNJa-TiLP7HE5mQCGTDqwM_aem_ARv98kq03-4gdWw1X3jGzbzef4NrRbRZ96b6cSRcuhwVXu-5JQxW7hZQDp8VYO4oPiqIt7Cj9-1PyvdKZYaZ2Tbl

Safe capacity was agreed at 3,000 with 300 allocated for away support this has now been increased to 600 after requests from Cork City.


not a hope will cobh get 2.4k "home" fans in ffs. there will be plenty of city fans down in cobh tonight getting tickets.

[Another Bohemia]

Well we can rule O'Donnell out of the running for Pat's manager...if he was ever in the running

https://twitter.com/bfcdublin/status/1788168538571555010?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Confirmed as assistant manager at Bohs

[2 Year Contract]

Well we can rule O'Donnell out of the running for Pat's manager...if he was ever in the running

https://twitter.com/bfcdublin/status/1788168538571555010?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Confirmed as assistant manager at Bohs

Classic LOI stuff that a few weeks ago one was a manager and the other an assistant, now they’re together in the opposite roles

[total hoofball]

Classic LOI stuff that a few weeks ago one was a manager and the other an assistant, now they’re together in the opposite roles
LOI becoming the like the NFL with fired Head Coaches immediately taking up co-ordinator vacancies for a season or two before they are hoping to be cleansed to interview for head coaching positions once again

[ger121]

Did anyone have that on their LOI bingo card?

[sbgawa]

Rovers Belgrade penelty hero Stephen O Donnell leaves Dundalk rooted to the bottom of the league and moves on to Bohs......could he relegate both this year ??

[Nesta99]

Classic LOI stuff that a few weeks ago one was a manager and the other an assistant, now they’re together in the opposite roles

Pragmatic and sensible by S'OD, if a bit odd in the turnaround. Bills need paying, a coaching career can take a step back to go forward. There are plenty who would stubbornly not look at an assistants post after being manager - and how often do we hear it in LoI that its the assistant thats the real brains behind success, think it may have started and been debunked with Pete Mahon!?

Its all strangely quiet in Inchicore, has to stoke the expectations of a big appointment imminent given Kelleher's reputation.

[Another Bohemia]

Pragmatic and sensible by S'OD, if a bit odd in the turnaround. Bills need paying, a coaching career can take a step back to go forward. There are plenty who would stubbornly not look at an assistants post after being manager - and how often do we hear it in LoI that its the assistant thats the real brains behind success, think it may have started and been debunked with Pete Mahon!?

Its all strangely quiet in Inchicore, has to stoke the expectations of a big appointment imminent given Kelleher's reputation.

I'd imagine he was given a severance package by Dundalk when he left so probably could have waited before taking on an assistant role but ultimately you're right bills need to be paid and we are already seeing Joey O'Brien being built up as the brains behind Duff's Shels team by some on here. I've always felt that the truth is somewhere in the middle with these things though. I think a manager has to be a good coach to have a plan on how they want to play, what players they want to bring in, how they should play in certain games and situations and then have the man management skills to deal with players who may get the chop. Great managers will know what their strengths in these areas are in bring in assistants & coaches to help in the other areas or bring in fresh ideas, different viewpoints etc.

[sbgawa]

One of Clanceys last games in charge of PAts was a match in Tallaght where rumour had it Kelliher was swinging the axe if they lost, a late equalizer kept Clancey in situ, maybe Kelliher doesnt want to risk a PAts win on Friday if he has already made his mind up,
Still think it is to quick personally, as i said in an earlier post a win Friday would have them 3 points off us and we are second with a far bigger budget than Pats

[2 Year Contract]

Pragmatic and sensible by S'OD, if a bit odd in the turnaround. Bills need paying, a coaching career can take a step back to go forward. There are plenty who would stubbornly not look at an assistants post after being manager - and how often do we hear it in LoI that its the assistant thats the real brains behind success, think it may have started and been debunked with Pete Mahon!?

I agree that it’s sensible from O’Donnell (and Bohs), it keeps him in footballing employment and if Reynolds doesn’t work out he’d probably be the one to step in and take the Bohs job (if someone else doesn’t offer him something that interests him before then).



It’s all strangely quiet in Inchicore, has to stoke the expectations of a big appointment imminent given Kelleher's reputation.

Not sure what this is supposed to mean. The manager was sacked yesterday and I’ve seen about 15 different articles from journalists linking Kenny, Rice, Long, Barraclough, Fleming, Elliott, Perth with the job. If you throw enough **** at the wall, some of it will stick and all that. But ‘strangely quiet’ I don’t get, the club are hardly going to release statements on the specific order of their preferred targets or something

[Nesta99]

I agree that it’s sensible from O’Donnell (and Bohs), it keeps him in footballing employment and if Reynolds doesn’t work out he’d probably be the one to step in and take the Bohs job (if someone else doesn’t offer him something that interests him before then).



Not sure what this is supposed to mean. The manager was sacked yesterday and I’ve seen about 15 different articles from journalists linking Kenny, Rice, Long, Barraclough, Fleming, Elliott, Perth with the job. If you throw enough **** at the wall, some of it will stick and all that. But ‘strangely quiet’ I don’t get, the club are hardly going to release statements on the specific order of their preferred targets or something

I was thinking of the standard who is taking training today and for a game in a couple of days. So maybe the lack of info from the club, rather than media speculation, is that there is no point in announcing the interim plan if the main man is about to step in imminently. It would stand to reason that Kelleher will have had things in mind, what sbgawa suggests makes sense, so possibly an already planned appointment is in the off. Kelleher would hardly have been rash and just pulled the trigger on a whim? It wouldnt be a surprise if Daly was pulled in by Kelleher, words were exchanged and a manager is gone or walks - still reckon the club statement says more in what wasnt said though the lack of some of the usual old platitudes was kind of refreshing.

[joey B]

I was thinking of the standard who is taking training today and for a game in a couple of days. So maybe the lack of info from the club, rather than media speculation, is that there is no point in announcing the interim plan if the main man is about to step in imminently. It would stand to reason that Kelleher will have had things in mind, what sbgawa suggests makes sense, so possibly an already planned appointment is in the off. Kelleher would hardly have been rash and just pulled the trigger on a whim? It wouldnt be a surprise if Daly was pulled in by Kelleher, words were exchanged and a manager is gone or walks - still reckon the club statement says more in what wasnt said though the lack of the usual old platitudes was kind of refreshing.


Pats aren’t talking about who is taking training or the game on Friday because Pats fans f**king hate him !!!!!

[2 Year Contract]

Pats aren’t talking about who is taking training or the game on Friday because Pats fans f**king hate him !!!!!

Yeah Sean O'Connor wouldn’t be a popular figure to put it mildly. Varying reports have said it’s either him and or Stephen Elliott that are taking training at the moment and the game on Friday

[pineapple stu]

Would Jim Gannon be an option for an LoI club?

Out of work in England, but highly respected in the lower leagues (especially at Stockport). Obviously strong LoI connections too.

[Nesta99]

Pats aren’t talking about who is taking training or the game on Friday because Pats fans f**king hate him !!!!!

So there is a reason for the club being mute! Whats the issue with Sean O'Connor, Im not familiar with any reason for internal dislking of coaches at St Pats so any chance of a recap? For a moment i read Sean Connor and eyes lit up but alas no fun to be had there.

[Nesta99]

Would Jim Gannon be an option for an LoI club?

Out of work in England, but highly respected in the lower leagues (especially at Stockport). Obviously strong LoI connections too.

I would think so, be good to have a local back in the league. When managing at Dundalk it was 1st Division mayhem and a thankless job. He'd have progressed a lot since then too. Wouldnt have much knowledge of the league but that shouldnt deter a meticulous preperation type like JG or a club!

[joey B]

So there is a reason for the club being mute! Whats the issue with Sean O'Connor, Im not familiar with any reason for internal dislking of coaches at St Pats so any chance of a recap? For a moment i read Sean Connor and eyes lit up but alas no fun to be had there.

https://x.com/ocowzer/status/1787902233666900073?s=46

Follow the quote tweets to that and you’ll get the idea…..

[TonyD]

https://x.com/ocowzer/status/1787902233666900073?s=46

Follow the quote tweets to that and you’ll get the idea…..

Yeah O’Connor would not be a popular figure with Pats fans, to put it mildly. He made some comments about the clubs lack of ambition after leaving for Rovers, and has was involved in a couple of incidents after that, including giving the finger to Pats supporters after a game in Tallaght, and a verbal altercation with some Pats supporters in the stand at Richmond, which I personally witnessed. Quite apart from any of that, I think if Daly was given the bullet, then O’Connor should have gone too. Now he will be in charge on Friday. I wouldn’t like to see him get the job. Ger O’Brien and Ian Bermingham are supposedly taking training along with him. Two club legends, but I’m not sure I’d like to see either of them appointed either. If it didn’t work out I’d hate to see them lost to the club.

[placid casual]

The LOI is like a soap opera,it's brilliant!:)

[ger121]

The LOI is like a soap opera,it's brilliant!:)

But when is the Bobby Ewing ‘It was all a dream’ in the shower moment.

[placid casual]

But when is the Bobby Ewing ‘It was all a dream’ in the shower moment.
Ehm....
Stephen Kenny pitching up at drogheda,saying he's delighted to finally get a chance to work in the louth region?
Roy Keane taking over management duties at Pat's ,claiming Dublin is the hotbed of Irish football?
Noel King getting a jo.... Hang on!!

[Nesta99]

But when is the Bobby Ewing ‘It was all a dream’ in the shower moment.

You missed it, it was St Pats 2001-02 league title.

[oriel]

Must dig up that classic Pats official tweet around Nov 2018 'We fully support SK to be appointed Ireland Manager' (while just having won the double and still with Dundalk and under contract)

Almost unbelievable, or was that another Bobby Ewing flashback?

[placid casual]

Git Forrester getting another pat's manager fired. And now windy is in charge for the Rovers game.:). He'll have to resist the urge to jump up in delight if/when Rovers score:)

[sbgawa]

That is funny. Can you imagine if he did jump up :)

[D24Saint]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/stephen-kenny-seriously-considering-league-of-ireland-return-with-st-pats/a1979031398.html

Could all still be media talk but there tends to be no smoke without fire in LOI circles. It’s a case of wait and see until an announcement is made.

[total hoofball]

Wasn't Kenny going to be the new Bohs manager about 6 weeks ago according to the ever reliable LOI circles?

It's blatantly obvious Stephen Kenny will be approached by any top LOI club who have just sacked a manager and it's equally obvious Kenny who is out of work would consider and look at any LOI job offer, I could even write an article in the Indo on that. If Kenny turns down Pats I'm sure McDonnell has saved his template to recycle if Derry or Shamrock Rovers have any future vacancies he will get it right eventually

[placid casual]

He won't be the Rovers manager ever again methinks, and I think that feeling is mutual between both club and individual.
Expect to see him at derry at season's end if they crash out of Europe quickly or fall short in the league.

[Jack B]

It feels very Pats to be confident of something big only for it to not happen. Who knows though.

[TonyD]

It feels very Pats to be confident of something big only for it to not happen. Who knows though.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d be nervous about appointing Kenny. Yeah, in one sense it looks like a no brainer, given his record in the league (Rovers excepted), but he has so much baggage with him now, post the Ireland job. He looked like a broken man by the end of that too. Maybe he can bounce back, but I can’t help feeling it would be a gamble.

[D24Saint]

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d be nervous about appointing Kenny. Yeah, in one sense it looks like a no brainer, given his record in the league (Rovers excepted), but he has so much baggage with him now, post the Ireland job. He looked like a broken man by the end of that too. Maybe he can bounce back, but I can’t help feeling it would be a gamble.

It’s would be a huge gamble for him aswell. He has a certain amount of stock after managing the international side even though he wasn’t successful during his time in charge. He is only early 50’s so if he goes to Pats and it goes badly he could be finished. The other scenario is that he can rebuild his reputation and regain his mojo and maybe in few years move on.

[Nesta99]

Again I think people underestimate Sks own self assessment of his tenure as Ireland manager and there were mitigating factors that could be pointed to as not being of help to him. I think the gamble is as much that if he takes the job and say a Plymouth come calling in October after a poor start to a season, his ambition is to move in that direction and not necessarily be saying Ive just taken the Pats job and I owe it to them to stay. I know it was a pathway to the Ireland job but he didnt hesitate for a moment when offered the u21s when at Dundalk and then took staff pretty ruthlessly with little compensation from the FAI and with some inside info on contract details (probably why Im a tad cynical on contracted club staff and the worth of those contracts without a registration system similar to players). You can be pretty sure that SK would build a title winning side, if it doesnt happen immediately give time he would get it there and currently there is little opposition to create an intensity to wining a league. Longford, Bohs, Derry, Dundalk all had successes under him, he was in a Scottish Cup final with a basement club that from a long way back when he took over had them withing a win of safety last day of the season. You can point to performances v Portugal and France that indicates the potential that was developed but for whatever reason the playing levels couldnt be maintained. His achiles heel for larger clubs abroad could be the media performances and at the very least he was guilty of defending his players, but perception is important - I dont think his ability or self belief has waned and certainly at LoI level its a no brainer if his head an be turned.

[Jack B]

Some...interesting shouts doing the rounds that Kenny's appointment is imminent with Stephen Rice and Gartland as part of his backroom staff. Won't believe it until it happens ambitious to say the least from Pats if true.

[ger121]

Some...interesting shouts doing the rounds that Kenny's appointment is imminent with Stephen Rice and Gartland as part of his backroom staff. Won't believe it until it happens ambitious to say the least from Pats if true.

Might explain the sudden departure of Gartland from Dundalk. Never a dull moment in the LOI.

[oriel]

That should be confirmed this week, Kenny and Gartland to Pats.

Some are saying SK was interested in going back to Dundalk, but Ainscough wouldn't give him the required time to consider and went ahead with King, I am not sure I believe that.

[D24Saint]

Some...interesting shouts doing the rounds that Kenny's appointment is imminent with Stephen Rice and Gartland as part of his backroom staff. Won't believe it until it happens ambitious to say the least from Pats if true.

It would certainly be a huge statement of intent by Mr K. The money involved in terms of pay, bonuses and transfers/wage budgets would be on a scale not seen at the club before. I’d say European group stage football is the aim here and we are trying to get Kenny in with that in mind.

[Jd2793]

That should be confirmed this week, Kenny and Gartland to Pats.

Some are saying SK was interested in going back to Dundalk, but Ainscough wouldn't give him the required time to consider and went ahead with King, I am not sure I believe that.

mad if ainscough did that. more likely SK saw the job on at dundalk and decided against it? rebuilding what you built up 10 years later isnt that attractive. pats with good money backing them, decent crowds and good youth system. dundalk beaten all ends up unfortunately for them

[pineapple stu]

Pat's have potential there for them and Kenny to be a very good match. Rovers losing €2.4m in a year with no group stage football might be paying close attention to how that one goes.

[Bunny Kelly]

Would seem like a massive missed opportunity for Derry if they let Pats nab him, really feels like they are going nowhere under Higgins & of all jobs I'd imagine that would have been the most desirable for Kenny

[wonder88]

Big news for Pats and the league if this happens, Johnny Giles to Shamrock Rovers type of appointment. He could see a pathway to the American MLS for himself if it goes well. Should be a great rivalry with Shelbourne. Who is Stephen Kenny's agent ?

[Burnsie]

Big news for Pats and the league if this happens, Johnny Giles to Shamrock Rovers type of appointment. He could see a pathway to the American MLS for himself if it goes well. Should be a great rivalry with Shelbourne. Who is Stephen Kenny's agent ?

Eamon McLoughlin

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fortitude-sports-management-int/beraterfirma/berater/6728

[sbgawa]

Big news for Pats and the league if this happens, Johnny Giles to Shamrock Rovers type of appointment. He could see a pathway to the American MLS for himself if it goes well. Should be a great rivalry with Shelbourne. Who is Stephen Kenny's agent ?


Hardly on the Johnnny Giles to Rovers league..Giles possibly Irelands best ever player (or in the discussion) coming home with the at the time aim of making Rovers into a European force (that was the spin anyway) compared to a sacked international Manager going back to the league he came from

[2 Year Contract]

I see Sligo no longer have Max Mata as his loan spell is now over. That’s a blow to them given the lack of squad depth as it was already. That leaves Wilson Waweru as the starting striker with who else as backup? Is it just the young lad Owen Elding?

[RealJohn91]

They have a Dutch striker too I think

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Yeah Rein Smit. Few other players on loan could possibly be gone end of June so certainly on the lookout

[oriel]

That should be confirmed this week, Kenny and Gartland to Pats.

Some are saying SK was interested in going back to Dundalk, but Ainscough wouldn't give him the required time to consider and went ahead with King, I am not sure I believe that.

BG won't be part of any ticket to Pats per Dan McD this am, also seems he was sacked by DFC not mutual leaving.