ST PAT’S SKIPPER RESPECTS KENNY
ST PAT’S captain Joe Redmond believes Stephen Kenny would be a good appointment to succeed Jon Daly as manager.
But the injured centre-back doesn’t know if the former Ireland boss will be lured to Inchicore and insists the players must shoulder blame for Daly’s sacking.
Daly was axed on Tuesday, less than 24-hours after a 1-0 loss in Sligo – the Saints’ seventh defeat in 15 games this season.
Kenny, who began his coaching career with St Pat’s Under-21s back in 1997, has been approached about the vacancy.
But it remains unclear if he intends returning to League of Ireland management or bide his time and try his hand outside of the country.
Experience
Redmond said yesterday: “I’ve not spoken to anybody about who they’re talking to but Stephen has a lot of experience in the league and managed Ireland.
“That would be good but I’m not sure what’s happening. They haven’t spoken (to the players) about appointing a manager.
“When we were in today we spoke about Friday. The next game is so important that we can’t sulk or moan about anything.
“We’ve to be together in this situation to take anything from the game against Shamrock Rovers.”
Sean O’Connor, who was part of Daly’s staff, will be in caretaker charge of St Pat’s in Tallaght tomorrow night.
But Redmond feels the players must shoulder some of the blame for Daly losing his job just six months after guiding the Saints to FAI Cup final glory.
Redmond said: “The news that Jon was gone was tough. As players, we take responsibility too as we weren’t good enough.
“Jon put in so much hard work, day in and day out, never left a stone unturned. He gave everything to the club.
“He put everything into us, made us believe again. He got us an FAI Cup and I’ve the utmost respect for him.”
Redmond reached out to Daly on Tuesday, soon after the players were told he was getting the sack.
“He was disappointed. He wanted to take us to the next level. And he never stopped, right up to the last whistle of the Sligo game,” he continued.
“He tried to push us to get the most out of us, so he’ll be disappointed as he believed in the group. He did a lot of good things on the pitch and, off the pitch, he was someone you could talk to about personal problems.”
Redmond is sidelined with an ankle ligament injury he shipped against Derry City on April 22, and is still waiting for clarity on when he might be back on the pitch.
Boots
Meanwhile PFA IRELAND and Sports Direct have struck a €140,000 deal to provide League of Ireland players with new football boots.
The deal is worth €70,000 each year over the next two seasons and will see 350 pros – male and female – receive a €200 voucher.
According to the PFA Ireland, players can go through three to four pairs of boots a season with the cost of each pair varying between €250 and €350.
PFAI boss Stephen McGuinness said: “We feel this is a fantastic initiative and one we’ve never had in the league before.”