I thought I’d missed the boat to come over and manage in Scotland
SAYS ORAN KEARNEY
ON his way to teach PE at the Cross and Passion College in County Antrim over the past 16 years, Oran Kearney could often see scotland in the distance.
After being rejected by st Mirren following an interview earlier this summer, the 40-year-old feared a dream move to the Premiership may never be on the horizon.
But following an emotional few days, Kearney is now the new man in the Paisley hotseat after succeeding Alan stubbs.
After his big break, the former teacher is hoping that with the same hard work and determination that underpinned his success at Northern irish part-timers Coleraine, success at saints will prove similarly academic.
‘i taught PE at Ballycastle and driving into work every morning on the north coast of Northern ireland was beautiful. You can see scotland on a good, clear day,’ said Kearney.
‘But scotland didn’t really feel close. There have been plenty of players who have gone from the Northern irish league to scotland and done really well, but nobody can really remember the last manager to do that.
‘After i was interviewed by st Mirren in the summer, i probably didn’t think the chance would come back again.
‘But i had a great principal teacher at school and, when the interest from st Mirren came back last week, he told me: ‘Oran, you have to go for this!’
‘i’m fortunate because i was a permanent teacher, so i could take a career break, as such. so i have that safety net, which helps.
‘But the four or five days previous to getting the st Mirren job were as tough as i’ve had in my life. it’s been an emotional few days. The three biggest facets of my life are my family, my work and my football.
‘i can only describe the last week as putting those three things into a tin can and giving it a shake. i’ve then poured it out to see what’s come out the other side. That’s how it has felt.’
Kearney is now hoping to bring the same unity to st Mirren that defined the rise of his unfashionable Coleraine to an irish Cup victory and second in the Northern irish Premiership, losing just once all last season.
Division and distrust quickly set in at st Mirren during the disastrous tenure of stubbs, which lasted just four league games. Yesterday, Kearney ensured all staff were in the room as he delivered his first address as manager to ensure everyone is pulling together once more. ‘i feel real similarities with the club i’ve just built and left to the club i’ve just come to,’ said Kearney, who is the son-in-law of former Kilmarnock boss Kenny shiels. ‘We won an irish Cup with Coleraine in May and we took 6,500 fans to Belfast. The feelgood factor from that is still emanating around the club three months later. ‘i look at the Championship title st Mirren won last season and that was at the same time as our cup win in May — but with a couple of defeats everything has a different feel. ‘For me, a football club is a real team effort and that’s why i had everyone in with me when i first spoke to the players on Monday morning.
‘i also told the lads how lucky they are to be where they are (in full-time football).
‘At Coleraine, i had guys who would train on a Tuesday and a Thursday and then do a shift overnight working on a motorway or doing scaffolding. They would still run through brick walls for me on a Tuesday, Thursday and a saturday.
‘The facilities here at st Mirren are fantastic and the chance to use them every day is an opportunity that needs to be grasped.’
For Kearney, a baptism of fire awaits in his home debut against champions Celtic on Friday night.
he received a text message from Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers on saturday morning welcoming him to scotland and he is looking to catch up with his ‘inspirational’ compatriot in person.
‘i have known Brendan through coaching for a long time now,’ added the new Buddies boss.
‘But i’m one of those people that doesn’t bother people if i don’t need to bother them.
‘i’ve not been getting Brendan’s number to wish him all the best before his games. But i did get his number before i was interviewed for the st Mirren job the first time around because i had a decent reason to speak to him.
‘i had a good 40 minutes on the phone with him and he was fantastic. i couldn’t have asked for any more from him. And when i was flying over on saturday morning, i got a lovely text from him, saying: “Welcome to the league, see you on Friday night”.
‘Brendan is an inspiration when you are talking about reaching for the stars. he has been brilliant at Celtic and at Liverpool before that. he’s a great manager and one we all aspire to.
‘if you don’t set your aspirations high and reach for the stars, you will never get anywhere.’
Against all odds, PE teacher Kearney has at last made it to scotland. Where st Mirren’s highly-rated but relatively unknown new boss goes from here promises to be a journey worth watching.