Sport

Kenna goes after poor league run and cup exit

LEAGUE OF IRELAND : AFTER A poor league run and an unexpected exit from the FAI Cup earlier in the week Jeff Kenna resigned …

PAUL GALLAGHER
Sat Sept 19 2009 - 01:00

LEAGUE OF IRELAND: AFTER A poor league run and an unexpected exit from the FAI Cup earlier in the week Jeff Kenna resigned as St Patrick's Athletic manager yesterday, leaving Maurice O'Driscoll to take charge for last night's league match against Galway United.

The 39-year-old joined the Saints from Galway United earlier this year but things haven’t gone according to plan.

They find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier Division (seventh) with just two wins from the last six. The final straw came with the unexpected defeat to First Division side Waterford United in the FAI Cup quarter-final replay on Tuesday.

After the cup defeat chants of “We want Kenna out” could be heard from certain sections of the Saints fans at Richmond Park.

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With the team struggling on the pitch earlier in the season there had been reports in May that Kenna had lost the dressingroom but the players at the time backed their manager.

Yesterday Kenna acknowledged it has been a difficult season and felt it was the right time to step down. “I’d like to thank the board, the fans and the players for their support throughout what has been a very difficult season for everyone,” he said.

“The season has certainly had its ups and downs, with the European results the obvious highlight for me personally.”

Despite poor domestic form the Dublin side put together an admirable run in Europe. In the second qualifying round of the Europa League they defeated Malta side Valletta and would go on to defeat Krylya Sovetov from Russia in the next round.

St Patrick’s were denied a place in the lucrative group stages when they came up against Steaua Bucharest with the Romanian side advancing 5-1 on aggregate.

“I have given my all to the job since my appointment but I believe now is the right time to leave the club. It hasn’t been an easy decision for me but I look forward to taking on a fresh challenge in the game.”

“The board has accepted his resignation and wish to acknowledge his contribution and thank him for his efforts,” added Richard Sadlier, the club’s chief executive.

It was with Galway United that the former Southampton and Blackburn Rovers defender cut his managerial teeth after hanging up the boots.

He took over from his former Republic of Ireland under-21 team-mate Tony Cousins in April 2008 and several months later the then 37-year-old became a player/manager.