Hoops part ways with Pat Fenlon

 

Boos rang out around Tallaght Stadium last Thursday when Rovers lost the first leg of the Europa League First Qualifying Round against Finnish side RoPS Rovaniemi. The Hoops supporters have been unhappy for quite some time about the performances of the team and results that have left the side well off the pace in the league. They are 14 points behind Dundalk and currently outside the automatic European places for next season.

 

The club statement noted that “the Board of Directors would like to place on record their thanks for the dedication and commitment Pat has shown over the course of three seasons with the Club.”

 

It leaves the Board, one that altered significantly following May’s football club AGM, seeking their fourth new manager in five seasons. Fenlon took over in August 2014 after the departure of Trevor Croly from the Tallaght hotseat. While Croly did win a Setanta Sports Cup and EA Sports League Cup at Rovers, there was no silverware for Fenlon during his tenure at the club.

 

With one of the best managerial records in the League of Ireland and a strong CV, Fenlon was a popular appointment to the job but he couldn’t find the right formula to meet the high demands of the Hoops faithful and attendances at Tallaght dropped during his time in charge.

 

The club have not challenged for a league title since they last won it in 2011 – during the amazingly successful spell when Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill was in charge. Neither Stephen Kenny (who replaced O’Neill), Croly nor now Fenlon have gone anywhere near to bringing a return to Rovers of the success that O’Neill had in Tallaght. Whoever takes over the hotseat at Rovers full-time knows the pressure will be on them from the very beginning.

 

It is likely that Stephen Bradley, who is part of the Rovers coaching set up, will be take over temporary charge of the team who fly out to Finland on Wednesday.

 

History is not on the Hoops’ side for that game as on the 11 occasions Rovers have trailed going into the second leg of a knock-out European tie, they have never won the game – they have three draws and eight defeats.