Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KENNEDY SPACE ENTER
Ex-ireland winger joins the race with Carsley to fill gap left by Duff
MARK KENNEDY has emerged as a contender to fill the vacancy left by Damien Duff on the Republic of Ireland coaching ticket.
Mirror Sport understands the former Liverpool and Ireland winger is interested in the job and that talks with Stephen Kenny are likely.
Lee Carsley is still the clear front runn er but Irel and b o ss Kenny is keeping his cards close to his chest as he takes stock of a bruising five days where Duff and goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly both resigned.
The World Cup qualifying campaign begins i n 10 weeks but Kenny does not intend rushing into either appointment. But both positions are still expected to be filled within the next fortnight.
It is understood that Kenny does not intend to comment on the recent bombshell developments in the Ireland camp until those new faces are on board.
Former internationals Carsley and John O’shea remain well in the frame but have coaching roles at the
E n g l i s h FA and Reading.
Vinny
Per th , w h o was Kenny’s long-time assistant at
Dundalk before succeeding him as manager, has not been ruled out of the equation. Jim Crawford, who was Kenny’s assistant with Ireland’s under-21s before taking over the team, is not expected to make the step up.
Kennedy, 44, is a free agent having quit as Macclesfield boss in August after rejecting a new contract following their League Two relegation after financial irregularities. He held talks with Dundalk at one stage last year before Filippo G i o v a g n o l i ’s surprise appointment as Perth’s successor. Kenny and Kennedy have yet to speak but are expected to. Yet sources claim the Ireland boss has not yet settled on a preferred candidate to succeed Duff.
Kennedy won the first of his 34 Ireland caps under Jack Charlton before featuring under Mick Mccarthy in his first spell as boss.
He played for Millwall, L iv e r p o o l , Wimbl e don , Manchester City, Wolves, Cr y st a l Pal a c e , Cardi f f and Ipswich.
Before landing the Macclesfield job last year, Kennedy (left) was under-21 boss at Ipswich and academy coach at Man City.
In December, Kennedy was back at Ipswich shadowing academy head of coaching and player development Bryan Klug. Kenny is also starting to assess the contenders for the goalkeeper role after Kelly ’s departure late on Tuesday night.
But while Duff ’s exit last Friday was a shock, Kelly’s decision to step away was less of a surprise.
Kenny holds Rene Gilmartin in high regard having appointed him as under-21 goalkeeper coach, a position he still holds under Crawford.
But it may be seen as too big a step this soon in the 3 3 - y e a r - o l d ’s c o a c h i n g career with stalwarts like Shay Given and Dean Kiely sure to be considered.
Dan Connor is another name but Steve Williams, Kenny’s coach at Dundalk who filled the void when Kelly sat out the Bulgaria game, would be a surprise choice.