THE MEN WHO FELL TO PERTH
Lilies suffered a big blow with loss of Kenny but Buckley insists Vinny can keep the champs on a successful path
DUNDALK are still the team to beat according to Liam Buckley who faces the champions on the opening night as Sligo Rovers’ new boss.
The Lilywhites were rocked earlier this month when Stephen Kenny quit as manager to take charge of Ireland’s under-21s before landing the senior
Irish job in 2020.
His former assistant, Vinny
Perth, will take over with the club set to confirm their new managerial team before the end of the week.
Perth doesn’t have the required Pro Licence so others will have to be drafted in alongside him. Former Dundalk boss John Gill is in contention for a role on the ticket but the club are still speaking to others. Regardless, Perth will call the shots but new Bit O’red boss Buckley believes it will be more of the same from the side that won four of the last five titles. Buckley (above) told Mirror Sport: “Dundalk are in a period of transition as Stephen has moved on but they still have a top squad. Stephen built such a good squad they could put two teams out capable of winning the Premier Division. “If we’re assuming that Vinny gets the job, he’s been working with these guys for years and has been a part of their success. “They’re still the team to beat as they’re highly organised. I don’t think Vinny, or anyone else, would be in a hurry to change things.
“You don’t fix what isn’t broken but they’ll miss Stephen and his personality as he was the one that put it altogether.”
Buckley is busy shaping a new squad with the likes of Johnny Dunleavy and Ronan Murray on board while Bermuda captain Dante Leverock is also on board.
“We’re away to Dundalk, home to St Pat’s and then we’ve Cork so you can’t get a tougher start than that,” he said.
“Pat’s will be targeting top four with the players they have brought in while Cork and Dundalk will certainly be top four.
“We’re in transition with new players and we’ll have a few more to come in before pre-season.”