Russell joins Pats management team

St Patrick’s Athletic have announced this evening the appointment of former UCD boss Martin Russell as assistant manager for the forthcoming 2014 Airtricity League season.

Russell is no stranger to Richmond Park having been involved with the Saints’ as a player and a coach between 1998 and 2005. He returns to Inchicore having shown his managerial metal at the Belfield Bowl in recent times, winning the First Division title in 2009 and consistently maintaining their Premier Division status in the intervening years.

Liam Buckley who has worked with Russell in the past and was pleased with the former Manchester United midfielders appointment telling stpatsfc.com: “Having previously worked with Martin, I am delighted to welcome him to my backroom staff.  Martin was a great player and achieved a lot with UCD as a manager, and he will be a great addition to the coaching staff.”

Russell won silverware with St Pat’s in the past, the 1998/99 League of Ireland (under Buckley) and the 2001 League Cup and he will no doubt be hoping to build upon the Saints successes of recent times too.

Russell also has experience of working with current Saints’ stars Ian Bermingham, Greg Bolger, and Conan Byrne at UCD, while Russell is a former teammate of both Keith Fahey and Brendan Clarke from his playing days with the Saints.

With such history with the club Russell is obviously happy to have found employment with the league champions, “I was delighted to be asked to join up with Liam and his coaching staff,” Russell told stpatsfc.com. “Having played under Liam as a player, I am really looking forward to working with him and a very talented squad.”

Martin will be thrown straight into the deep-end tonight as he takes his place in the dugout for St Pats Setanta Cup clash with Fermanagh outfit Ballinamallard United.