Kenny renews Dundalk contract until end of 2016
They call him King Kenny around Oriel these days. He’s the manager who helped orchestrate the club’s first Premier title in 19 years and turned the fortunes of a club around. Today he extended his reign.
The announcement was made through a statement on the club’s website and it praised Kenny for his superb double success last year.
Speaking about the renewal, Kenny spoke of his happiness at extending his contract but said it wasn’t something that was ever in doubt.
“We made an agreement at the end of the season but I just put pen-to-paper this week. So this wasn’t something we decided in the last few days but I am delighted to be staying on until the end of 2016.
“It has been a tremendous journey the club have embarked on in the last few years and it has been great to be part of. We were bottom of the league and had a completely new group go from where we were to league champions and to win trophies. It has been great for all involved.”
Kenny spoke fondly of the mood in Dundalk and the level of support he has received. He believes that the past two seasons have been the shot in the arm the sleeping giant of the north-east needed.
“It has been great to see the club grow. The crowd have been terrific since I have come in here and they have grown through the time. They have been so passionate and really got behind the team which has been a huge help.
“It’s great to see the huge crowds come to Oriel Park and see them with such passion.”
Kenny recently oversaw his 100th game in charge against Galway United and he has the best win record of any Dundalk manager in the first 100 games. It’s a habit he wants to keep going and he spoke of how the challenge for him now is to aspire to continued success but he was confident that the group of players he has assembled has the hunger to do so.
“The big challenge now is to keep that going. It has been 20 years since Dundalk were consistently in the top 4, 20 years since Dermot Keely won the league here and it has been that long since Dundalk were an established club. That’s the challenge we face now.
“We want to mount a defence of our title and we look forward to Europe as well.
“There’s a great hunger among everyone at the club. The work ethic of my technical staff and by everyone behind the scenes has been terrific and a vital part of our success. They have been fantastic to work with through this time. To have the club compete and grow with the perceived bigger clubs is a credit to everyone at the club.”