Kenna next on managerial merry-go-round?

Jeff Kenna's position as manager of Galway United was thrown into further doubt this evening following reports that he failed to turn up for a planned meeting with potential squad members for the forthcoming season today.

A lack of denial from either Kenna or Galway United of rumours that the rookie boss is in talks with St Patrick's Athletic over the position left vacant by Johnny McDonnell last week, as well as the fact that leading bookmakers Paddy Power suspended betting on the issue after a flurry of big bets were placed on Kenna, only adds fuel to the growing speculation.

Ever since Kenna masterminded Galway's last-day escape from relegation, speculation has been rife that the Dubliner was keen to seek employment elsewhere as his family had failed to settle in the area and, with Galway reverting to a part-time set-up, he was endeavouring to find a job with full-time players or at a location closer to his midlands home.

The board of Galway United waited for Kenna to make up his mind on returning while the ambitious Dubliner applied for numerous jobs, which were later revealed as Huddersfield Town, Swindon and Oxford as well as a number of League Of Ireland positions. Club CEO NIck Leeson eventually issued an ultimatum looking for a decision, which was then extended amid farcical scenes, before the club finally announced on December 18th that the manager had decided to stay on for the coming season.

Kenna's statement at the time was far from inspiring. “I had a number of things to consider since the end of the season and I am grateful to Galway United for allowing me the opportunity to do that.

“The best thing at this stage is to build on the progress we have made at Galway United and to that end I am really looking forward to the start of the new season.”

Following the announcement of his decision to stay, Kenna made no bones about the fact that he actively sought out other jobs, claiming to have been offered both the Dundalk and Cork City jobs, so it came as something of a surprise that he actually took on the task of keeping Galway in the top division considering the shrinking state of the club's finances.

With a reduced playing budget in the region of €6,000 a week, the Galway United squad, which Kenna had already been forced to trim due to monetary constraints last season, now consists of 'keeper Gary Rogers who has been transfer listed by request and Jay O'Shea, whose on-off cross-channel move has been another source of worry for the club as they look to reduce the debts incurred from the full-time gamble. Kenna was left with the onerous task of building a squad from scratch without the finances to properly construct one fit for Premier Divison football.

One nagging question lurked in the back of the minds of many Galway United supporters when Jeff Kenna "committed" to another season at Terryland Park. "Will he jump ship when the next more suitable job becomes available?" That question looks like being answered in the coming days.