Kenny for St Pats?

**lofty9** · 22/10/2007, 12:55 PM

Is Johnny Mac under any pressure from the Pats board? Or is this just someone putting a team to Kenny's name for the sake of it. Looks like Kenny is washed up with the Pars anyhow.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2...10449378t0.asp

The end of Stephen Kenny’s reign as the manager of Dunfermline Athletic appears to be approaching.
The embarrassing nature of the weekend defeat at the hands of first division leaders Hamilton Accies—who, just 10 games into the campaign, the Pars now trail by 13 points—has heightened concerns within the East End Park boardroom over where the club are headed under Kenny’s leadership.
In the wake of Saturday’s 5-0 home thrashing, I understand a parting of the ways is being considered.
With 18 months left to run on his contract, sacking the former Derry City boss would cost Dunfermline the best part of £200,000.
However, if rumours that St Patrick’s Athletic want Kenny to return to Ireland and take charge there are true, then it could be there is a less painful solution to be found to the situation.
Kenny arrived at East End Park 11 months ago with a great reputation and led Dunfermline to last season’s Tennent’s Scottish Cup final, beating Rangers, Hearts and Hibs along the way. He also has steered them to this term’s Challenge Cup final.
However, he failed to prevent the club from being relegated from the SPL and under his leadership they have won just nine of 34 league games—three of 10 in the first division.
Going straight back up is a financial imperative for the Pars but the manner in which they are performing suggests there is little chance of that happening and that is why a worried board are contemplating managerial change.
In the aftermath of the loss to Accies, Kenny was talking about soldiering on.
“Being fifth in the league ten games into the season is not where we want to be but we have to make sure that we prepare well for Stirling next week and try to get a win,” he said.
Last night, however, there was considerable doubt over whether he’ll still be in charge for the trip to Albion.

**Dodge** · 22/10/2007, 1:03 PM

Fingers crossed

**Bomb Landsdowne** · 22/10/2007, 1:12 PM

Great if true. Would be the perfect manager to have to steer Pats into its bright hopefully successful future.

**el punter** · 22/10/2007, 1:16 PM

What's the case against Johnny Mc lads?

**Jerry The Saint** · 22/10/2007, 1:18 PM

I heard on the radio this morning that Kenny was "on the verge" of returning to the eircom League. Looking at the likely managerial situation at each club, this could only mean a return to Longford (

) or a return to Pats. Would love to see it (it would be tough on McDonnell, especially if he gets Pats into UEFA, but Kenny is too big a talent to let pass by - it happened before and set us back a few seasons).

The important thing for any new man coming into Pats is that they will be fully aware of Kerr's role and their own responsibilities. No matter the spin put on it at the time, Johnny Mac's job was not the same as he signed up for so there was always going to be a difficult adjustment period. This is why people say the "Director of Football" thing "never works". It doesn't work if it's imposed on managers but in countries where it is the accepted management format it seems to work fine.

**Sheridan** · 22/10/2007, 1:22 PM

McDonnell had some kind of joint-management arrangement with John Toal originally, didn't he?

**Dodge** · 22/10/2007, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by Sheridan

McDonnell had some kind of joint-management arrangement with John Toal originally, didn't he?

No, Toal was his assistant. Lasted less than 6 months and then slipped away.

**dcfcsteve** · 22/10/2007, 1:31 PM

Two observations :

1) This appears to vindicate the large number of people who said he was an idiot to go to Dunfermline in the first place.

2) No doubt many of you will disagree, but Pats would be a backwards step for Kenny versus where he was before he left the EL. He left a club with ambitious plans for a new stadium and the biggest fan-base in the league, who were on the verge of a treble. If he does join Pats he'll be going to a club who have blown their shot at the league this season, seem jinxed against wining Cups, who have a badly laid-out stadium with extremely limited capacity, and a relatively small fan-base who can't even out-number away fans at a Cup Final within a few miles of their own home.

The acid test question is 'would Kenny have left City for Pats' ? The answer to which is clearly 'no'. So if this does transpire it would be a step backwards, and an indication of the fact that no better job would be available for him in the league.

*Straps on hard hat....*

**Red4Eva** · 22/10/2007, 1:34 PM

johnny mac and his staff got fired friday week ago, just hasn't been made public.

**Dodge** · 22/10/2007, 1:36 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

The acid test question is 'would Kenny have left City for Pats' ? The answer to which is clearly 'no'.

You've obviously never talked to the man about his love for the club he's always supported, and the club who introduced him to League of Ireland football, both as player and manager.

Now the question is, hot shot, do you think I'm bluffing like you are, or am I 100% spot on?

**TheSaint2002** · 22/10/2007, 1:39 PM

No doubt many of you will disagree, but Pats would be a backwards step for Kenny versus where he was before he left the EL. He left a club with ambitious plans for a new stadium and the biggest fan-base in the league, who were on the verge of a treble. If he does join Pats he'll be going to a club who have blown their shot at the league this season, seem jinxed against wining Cups, who have a badly laid-out stadium with extremely limited capacity, and a relatively small fan-base who can't even out-number away fans at a Cup Final within a few miles of their own home.

yes it tough to match up to the lofty heights of DCFC as they are clearly the lords of all creation

**charliesboots** · 22/10/2007, 1:40 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Two observations :

1) This appears to vindicate the large number of people who said he was an idiot to go to Dunfermline in the first place.

2) No doubt many of you will disagree, but Pats would be a backwards step for Kenny versus where he was before he left the EL. He left a club with ambitious plans for a new stadium and the biggest fan-base in the league, who were on the verge of a treble. If he does join Pats he'll be going to a club who have blown their shot at the league this season, seem jinxed against wining Cups, who have a badly laid-out stadium with extremely limited capacity, and a relatively small fan-base who can't even out-number away fans at a Cup Final within a few miles of their own home.

The acid test question is 'would Kenny have left City for Pats' ? The answer to which is clearly 'no'. So if this does transpire it would be a step backwards, and an indication of the fact that no better job would be available for him in the league.

*Straps on hard hat....*

You obviously missed out on the big news story of the year Steve.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/spo...824809985.html

**dcfcsteve** · 22/10/2007, 1:45 PM

Originally Posted by charliesboots

You obviously missed out on the big news story of the year Steve.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/spo...824809985.html

Didn't miss that at all. But it doesn't change my view.

You still have a relatively small fan-base and a limited stadium with fundamental and seemingly insurmountable access problems. Money can't solve everything.

**lofty9** · 22/10/2007, 1:47 PM

I doubt he'd work with Kerr looking over his shoulder though.

He should really take a sabbatical in his house in Donegal and wait for the right job to come up in that area..........

like sheep sha$$ing

**btid1** · 22/10/2007, 1:50 PM

Originally Posted by lofty9

I doubt he'd work with Kerr looking over his shoulder though.

I would agree.Who in their right mind would take the job with someone like Kerr hovering?

**charliesboots** · 22/10/2007, 1:52 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Didn't miss that at all. But it doesn't change my view.

You still have a relatively small fan-base and a limited stadium with fundamental and seemingly insurmountable access problems. Money can't solve everything.

I bow to your superior knowledge of Inchicore and of who owns the buildings surrounding Richmond Park on all sides!

Plus Dodge's point in hugely valid - If we hadn't appointed Johnny Mac just before Kenny left Bohs he would have had a straight choice between Derry and Pats and I've absolutely no doubt who he would have picked.