Dropping down could put Kenny on an upward graph

STEPHEN Kenny and James McClean didn’t agree on the merits of the longserving Ireland international playing in League Two last season.

When McClean told Kenny he was signing for Wrexham, he claims the former Ireland boss ‘couldn’t wait to get off the phone’. Soon after, McClean was cut from the Ireland squad.

Next season, McClean will be in League One with The Dragons. Where will Kenny be?

Since Kenny departed the Ireland job, 33 managerial positions have become vacant in English football. Of those, 10 were in League Two and nine in League One.

All were filled bar two positions that have just become available, Hull City in the Championship and Morecambe in League Two.

The former, owned by Acun Ilcali — who had a brief stint at the Tolka Park tiller — won’t go near Kenny but Morecambe might.

Would he fancy a crack at the fourth tier? Or might a call closer to home hold more appeal?

The offer from St Patrick’s Athletic owner Garrett Kelleher is genuine, even if the parties are miles apart on wages. Kenny can’t expect anything like the €560,000 a year he was getting as Ireland manager.

At the moment, the Dubliner is an international boss out of work. If he joins the Saints, he would revert to a League of Ireland manager, which has less prestige.

In effect, it would be a step backwards for Kenny, 52, whose career graph was mostly of highs until he took on guiding his country.

Kelleher has ambitious plans for St Pat’s, including a new-look Richmond Park.

On the pitch, he is eager for success in the Premier Division — next Friday the club will celebrate the title-winning teams of 1998 and 1999.

Kelleher believes Kenny can lift the Saints back to where they once were.

Success could do the same for Kenny, who built his reputation on fruitful projects at Longford Town, Derry City and Dundalk.

One step back to take two forward? It worked for McClean at Wrexham.