METHOD TO THE MADNESS
Saints may have Kenny lined up
ANYONE who does not feel sorry for Jon Daly must have a heart of stone.
The fact is he delivered as St Pat’s boss, getting them into Europe, and all the financial trimmings that come with that, while giving them one of their best ever days in years.
That was a memorable FAI Cup triumph in front of a packed Aviva last November.
These are all facts. Also a fact is Daly is a trophy-winning manager, a talented winner, but also a man with oodles of class and talent. He is a fantastic human being.
It is also a fact he is now out of a job. That is a tough one.
He was sacked after losing 1-0 to Sligo on Monday.
If Jon had won that game, St Pat’s would be fourth in the table, three points away from pre-season title favourites Shamrock Rovers and Derry City.
That is why on the basis of what he has already achieved, and on the basis of his decency, his commitment to the club, I feel so sorry for him.
Respect
It really is time for League of Ireland managers to get more respect.
When guys like Daly, who delivered a trophy, brought in hundreds of thousands of euros for getting into Europe, get sacked, it makes you sick.
If St Pat’s progress to the group stages, it is worth millions to their coffers. He has hardly been a failure, has he?
This time last year Tim Clancy was sacked after a short, but not-so-sweet spell. That ended in tears.
Then in his next job a team that was a mess last season, that was relegated, have gone eight points clear at the top.
His impressive work in Drogheda — plus his outstanding results in Europe with St Pat’s when they knocked out the decent Slovenian outfit Mura proved Clancy is clearly no mug.
After that win they defeated CSKA Sofia in the Bulgarian capital, then lost 2-0 in Tallaght in the second leg.
St Pat’s had to play two away games in that European tie.
Surely for St Pat’s — a club we are told has big ambitions and have one of the most respected owners in the League — it should be an absolute priority to play the big European nights in Inchicore, that glorious mecca of football.
It is not easy running a football club. And it is not easy running St Pat’s.
I was one of Garrett Kelleher’s predecessors. And it took over my life.
Kelleher has been running the club now for 17 years and should be applauded for the stability he has brought.
But the elephant in the room is the lack of League titles.
And perhaps it is that desperation to get back to winning titles that makes it so difficult for the manager.
Stephen O’Donnell is a talented coach. He did a great job as St Pat’s manager, winning the FAI Cup.
But that all ended in threats of legal action. And that is a shame.
I don’t know Garrett well. But I have met him a couple of times and it is clear he is a man of deep intelligence, integrity, who absolutely loves St
Pat’s.
However, I always came away from the meetings believing he was not as keen on me as I was on him.
Again, I can respect anyone who feels that way. Because while clearly he is the big boss of the Supersaints, in my football journey, I have often struggled with the big bosses.
Care
Therefore whilst clearly I was sad and upset to see Daly leave a club I care so deeply about, I do believe Garrett is entitled to run his club in whichever way that he sees fit.
However, the fact he has made the choice in the week going into a Pat’s-Rovers derby game makes me think Garrett has a big announcement up his sleeve.
I introduced Stephen Kenny to League of Ireland coaching when I was manager of
St Pat’s.
This was in 1997 when the League told me they did not believe in academy football, that I should stick with the B Division.
I introduced an Under-21 team. We entered the AUL League. I made Kenny boss.
I don’t always agree with Kelleher, I am not close to him or anyone at St Pat’s.
And I am happy to be ‘the outsider’ because I know when I was there that I delivered League titles.
I believe you have your time at a club and the world moves on, and I am so proud of the progress that I was able to be a part of.
When I arrived, there were sheep grazing on the Richmond Park pitch.
When I left, we had won league titles galore, had enjoyed great nights in Europe and had redeveloped the stadium.
The bottom line is I trust in Garrett Kelleher. He is a good man.
And I have got a feeling that sacking Daly in such a ruthless fashion must mean that Pat’s must have something very special up their sleeve.
Please God, it is Stephen Kenny.