2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

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

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.

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

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Originally Posted by Jack B

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

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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.

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Originally Posted by TonyD

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

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.

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

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 ?

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Originally Posted by 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 ?

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Eamon McLoughlin

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fort...a/berater/6728

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Originally Posted by 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 ?

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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

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?

They have a Dutch striker too I think

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by 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 ?

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Hibs have a vacancy this week and SK managed in SPL before, long time ago mind, he might also want to see what other interest there is in UK at L1 / L2 , but he wasn't even close to the Aberdeen job when that last came up a few months back.

Could still end up at Pats, but he might be also thinking that rules him out of any other UK job and there will be dozens of positions there to be filled during the summer, its an odd one, almost too good for LOI but not good enough (in UK clubs eyes) for over there, I remember reading Lincoln City fans were not too happy with the link in 2023.

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

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

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Giles was also manager of the Irish team at the same time - and a successful manager at that (given the players available and the corruption that cost Ireland two qualifications during his tenure).

Nowhere are Giles and Kenny in the same league as managers - in fact there is a massive gulf between them. I'd love to see what the likes of Giles or Liam Touhy could have done with the current squad.

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Originally Posted by oriel

Hibs have a vacancy this week and SK managed in SPL before, long time ago mind, he might also want to see what other interest there is in UK at L1 / L2 , but he wasn't even close to the Aberdeen job when that last came up a few months back.

Could still end up at Pats, but he might be also thinking that rules him out of any other UK job and there will be dozens of positions there to be filled during the summer, its an odd one, almost too good for LOI but not good enough (in UK clubs eyes) for over there, I remember reading Lincoln City fans were not too happy with the link in 2023.

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His failure at Dunfermline will always count against him in Scotland.

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Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

His failure at Dunfermline will always count against him in Scotland.

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Always feel that such a false narrative. They were goosed financially and still got them to a cup final.

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Originally Posted by Jolly Red Giant

Giles was also manager of the Irish team at the same time - and a successful manager at that (given the players available and the corruption that cost Ireland two qualifications during his tenure).

Nowhere are Giles and Kenny in the same league as managers - in fact there is a massive gulf between them. I'd love to see what the likes of Giles or Liam Touhy could have done with the current squad.

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Giles was in fact player-manager at Rovers and for Ireland - so he picked himself for the international team. It was never questioned - he was still a class player, albeit a bit slower and crankier. He did well at West Brom, getting promotion from the old Second Division and finishing an impressive seventh in the First Division the following season.

king gone from dundalk already

Obviously if there’s genuinely a serious medical issue you wish him well but at the same time it’s hard not to believe he just packed it in,seriously embarrassing times for Dundalk though…..

Seemingly it was down to health issues, that's been confirmed by a few now, and I`m genuinely sorry for him.

He should never have been asked to take it, nor should he have accepted it, but he did.

That said, there is a chance now to get a more suitable candidate and to work with new joins in July, and to have a chance of keeping us up, still a huge ask as a lot more damage can be done between now and then.

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Originally Posted by joey B

Obviously if there’s genuinely a serious medical issue you wish him well but at the same time it’s hard not to believe he just packed it in,seriously embarrassing times for Dundalk though…..

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Don't think anyone saw that. There are a gazillion rumours. Doolin in and maybe people should be careful what they wish for. The talk of assistant managers that are arguably stronger than the manager. Strange stuff. Garts being ousted was being called for timing is interesting.

King was on a hiding to nothing, saw the writing on the wall?

Seen Ainscough was tweeting abuse to a fan and then deleted it swiftly. Not really helping his cause and just further makes the club look like an absolute basket case at the moment.

"go F@@@ yourself u **** head" from the owner is exactly what id want to see if i was a sponsor considering supporting Dundalk.
He must have a very thin skin, you cant be picking twitter fights as a Club owner.

The tweet he was responding to was from a fan (i preume) responding to the NK departure by saying "time to pick up the phone and beg the real King" not exactly hurling abuse at BA. unless there is history i amnt aware of

Thin skin I guess you mean. As in, hyper sensitive to a simple fans suggestion

Mad stuff by Ainsworth. While he seems to be doing good stuff off the pitch. The King appointment and the ****show that's followed, the argument in Drogheda and now this on X are very worrying. Coming across as a bit of a headcase, who thinks he knows best and won't listen to advice. Recipe for disaster. Fully expect him to hire Buckley

So who's in the running to be Ainscough's next hire... Roddy, Keely, Sean Connor, Steve Staunton??

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

So who's in the running to be Ainscough's next hire... Roddy, Keely, Sean Connor, Steve Staunton??

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Dermot Keely anyone?

This season is great.

What an utter farce of a football club.
A barstoolers wet dream when it comes to discussing the merits or otherwise of the League of Ireland.

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Originally Posted by placid casual

What an utter farce of a football club.
A barstoolers wet dream when it comes to discussing the merits or otherwise of the League of Ireland.

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F"ck them their small minds are already made up. As a LOI fan this is the soap opera stuff that makes the league

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Originally Posted by outspoken

F"ck them their small minds are already made up. As a LOI fan this is the soap opera stuff that makes the league

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We'll have to agree to disagree then outspoken.
For me it's a really bad look for the league , albeit the comedy value of a club who 6 yrs ago were cash rich ,boasting a title winning team and self proclaimed best loi manager ever, are now melting like fallen snow in may. Good enough for them.
Cork will at least offer the opportunity of raincover for away fans next season, which should be the bare minimum for ground facilities in a league striving to get better and be taken seriously by the hoi polloi of irish football fans.

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Originally Posted by placid casual

We'll have to agree to disagree then outspoken.
For me it's a really bad look for the league , albeit the comedy value of a club who 6 yrs ago were cash rich ,boasting a title winning team and self proclaimed best loi manager ever, are now melting like fallen snow in may. Good enough for them.
Cork will at least offer the opportunity of raincover for away fans next season, which should be the bare minimum for ground facilities in a league striving to get better and be taken seriously by the hoi polloi of irish football fans.

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I don't think Cork City are in any position to be feeling smug. The club. With the self proclaimed best support in the country once again in the First Division and only recently back in a stadium they were locked out of as they don't own it. This time last year it was their owner making the headlines.