Ambitious manager won’t pull punches DARREN KELLY FACTFILE
DARREN Kelly isn’t exactly a household name. Past clubs include Derry, Garforth and Frickley Athletic. This time four years ago, he was working in the community and coaching York City’s Under-14s.
But if there’s one thing we do know about Oldham Athletic’s unheralded new manager, it’s that he doesn’t mince words.
Back in February 2006, the centre-half was captaining Irish side Portadown when – like John Carver at Newcastle – his patience snapped.
Childish
“I’m fed up with the childish behaviour of certain individuals in the squad,” he blasted. “Too many have failed to give 100 per cent this season. They’ve let themselves, the management and the fans down.
“I would argue that those who lack the ambition and determination to succeed should be shown the door. I know what I’m saying is harsh but it’s all true. Some players have behaved like prima donnas – it’s disgraceful.”
Oldham’s players can consider themselves warned. “Darren was always forthright in his opinions and never one to suffer fools,” said Ronnie McFall, who was appointed Portadown man- Born: Derry, Northern Ireland, 1979 (Age 35) Playing Career: A centre-half, Kelly joined hometown club Derry City and made his debut aged 15, winning the League of Ireland title that same season. After 140 appearances, he joined Third Division Carlisle for a club-record £100,000 in August 2002 and was part of the side defeated 2-0 by Bristol City in the LDV Vans Trophy final in 2003. After 54 games for the Cumbrians, Kelly returned to the LoI with part-time outfit Portadown in 2004, skippering them to an Irish Cup in 2005. A return to Derry in 2006 brought another Cup victory, a six-game run in the UEFA Cup, one Champions League qualifier and a place in the Irish team of the year. In 2007, family commitments saw Kelly reject a move to the SPL with Inverness to join York City, for whom he made 45 ager in 1986 and is now the longest-serving manager in European football.“He had high standards and expected them of others. It’s what made him such a good leader.”
Kelly may sound demanding, but he is entitled to. After all, the 35-year-old learned the hard way that one lapse can jeopardise an entire career.
Born a literal stone’s throw from Derry City’s Brandywell Stadium in Northern Ireland, Kelly joined the club as a youngster and, in February 1996, made his debut at the age of just 15.
That was followed by 11 caps for the U21s, a League of Ireland title and, in 2002, a £100,000 move to Carlisle that helped keep cash-strapped Derry afloat.
At that point, a stellar playing career in England was expected. “Darren is the best centre-half in Ireland as far as Conference appearances. Released in 2009, he spent another two years at Portadown before moving into coaching and continued to play parttime for Stalybridge Celtic, Garforth Town, Frickley Athletic and Scarborough. Kelly also won 11 caps for Northern Ireland Under-21s. Managerial Career: A UEFA B Licence holder from the age of 20, Kelly completed his A Licence 10 years later and was taken onto York’s coaching staff by Gary Mills in March 2011. Starting as a community coach, Kelly soon stepped up to the centre of excellence and eventually oversaw youth development right through from Under-12 to Under-16s. He completed his Pro Licence in October 2014 and in January was head-hunted by Sunderland for a role in their academy. He was named manager of Oldham Athletic on Monday. I’m concerned and without a doubt he has the potential to go all the way,” said Derry boss Kevin Mahon.
Carlisle’s Irish manager Roddy Collins went even further. “He’s the best defender in Ireland by a mile and will be an international soon enough. He’s a superb player who will be the best centre-half in this division and probably right up to the First Division.”
Solid
A solid first season alongside David Raven (“a class act and model professional who helped me so much,” said Kelly) which yielded Football League survival and an LDV Vans final appearance, only strengthened those perceptions.
Alas, when Collins departed, new gaffer Paul Simpson was less enamoured with the club’s record signing. And Kelly, out of favour for the first time in his career, imploded. “I liked Darren and I think he could have improved,” said Simpson. “But when he was out he grew frustrated, put weight on, lost his fitness and ended up being so far away from the first team.”
To his credit, Kelly admitted his error and lost a stone and a half. By then, though, the club’s ailing finances meant he was surplus to requirements.
And while he would go on to play six games in the UEFA Cup with Derry (beating Swedish giants Gothenburg in 2006), win a place in the Irish team of the year and tackle the Conference with York City, Kelly would taste neither international honours or a return to the Football League.
“I lost my way,” he admitted later. “But I learned from it. It made me realise how important it was to focus – to put my all into each and every day.”
So he did, passing his wisdom to the next generation, first as a player at Portadown and Derry, where he was renowned for his fearsome work ethic.
“If every other player matched the fighting spirit of Darren Kelly, we would never produce a pedestrian display,” said McFall. Then, after qualifying as a physical therapist and adding UEFA ‘A’ and Pro Licences to the ‘B’ qualification he earned at the age of 20, he worked as a youth coach at York City under Gary Mills.
“Gary was a real inspiration,” he said. “He made everybody feel important. I am a big believer in the psychological side of football and getting in people’s minds. I’ve done an FA level five in psychology qualification and I think getting your mindset right is one of the most important things in sport.”
Head-hunted by Sunderland to coach in their academy in January, Kelly said at the time that he “didn’t want to wait ten or 20 years to become a manager.”
In the end, he would wait just five months before seeing off some 100-plus candidates to become the Latics’ latest boss.
“Is it a risk?,” he said this week.“From the supporters, the chairman and the board side of it, absolutely.
“But do I think it is a risk? No – and I think I’ll prove that.”