Stephen Kenny could be on his way back to the League of Ireland after getting the sack from Dunfermline.

The Scottish outfit was a Premier League side when he took over last November but despite a brave fight the Dubliner was unable to save the club from relegation.

Despite losing personnel and being forced to operate under a tighter budget, Dunfermline were pre-season favourites to bounce straight back to the SPL.

But life in the Scottish First Division has been anything but rosy and the club are languishing at the wrong end of the table following a series of depressing results.

Indeed, Dunfermline are a mere shadow of the team that reached last season's Scottish Cup final. They languish some 21 points behind leaders Hamilton and just two points ahead of bottom side Stirling.

Kenny was in charge for a total of 51 games.  He won 16, lost 24 and drew 11. His position became untenable following back-to-back 5-0, 3-0 and 4-0 defeats in recent weeks. Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Dundee merely forced the hand of chairman John Yorkston.

The club's veteran striker Jim McIntyre will act as caretaker manager with immediate effect.

"Although there is never a good time to change a manager the board felt following recent league results that we had no alternative but to act now," said Yorkston.

"The club have given Stephen their full backing and support throughout his tenure but regrettably things have just not worked out the way we hoped.

"We wish him well in the future and look forward to seeing the players perform for their new caretaker manager Jim McIntyre."

Kenny, who joined the Scottish club from Derry City last winter, was mentioned in connection with the Cork City job this week and could dislodge Damien Richardson as manager.

He will also be linked to St Patrick's Athletic despite the fact John McDonnell revived his side late in the season to finish second behind Drogheda.

But McDonnell's hand would have to be forced while Richardson already appears to have one foot out the door.  He is at odds with Cork's new owners, Arkaga Fund, and could be sacked this week.

After delivering FAI Cup success on Sunday he suggested he had overseen his last game for the Turner's Cross club.  But he performed an about turn last night by hinting he could yet have a future on Leeside.  He is demanding clarification talks with the club's general manager, Aidan Tynan.

The Cork City board are keen to enforce a reshuffle by introducing a Director of Football role. That position was earmarked for Richardson during contract negotiations with the club's previous board but nothing was signed.  Last night he acknowledged such a role was "a natural progression" but at the RDS on Sunday he was adamant his future lay in management.

With former Cork boss Pat Dolan keen to continue his media work, Kenny is favourite to succeed Richardson should the 61-year-old be forced out.

A year ago Kenny was on a crest of a wave and a return to the League of Ireland seemed unthinkable.

But despite flashing his potential in Scotland, fortunes nose-dived and his enthusiasm waned.   He now craves a fresh challenge and could yet retrace his steps back to Ireland.

Cork, by virtue of Sunday's cup win, can offer Uefa and Setanta Cup football and this could be the clincher - although it would mean uprooting his family who had recently joined him in Scotland.
 
Whether he deems a lower league job in England more challenging remains to be seen.