The Long Goodbye

Seven days ago as his players left the Dalymount Park pitch, the first defeat of their season suffered, Pat Fenlon made a beeline towards the part of the Jodi Stand long known to have housed the most vocal and boisterous element of the Bohemians’ support. The gesture, a display of appreciation, wasn’t particularly unusual. Off the field he has repeatedly praised fans for their work in trying to secure the club’s future and talked about the understanding that exists of the fact that rebuilding and consolidation are as high amongst priorities this year as any quest for silverware. But last Friday was different. As Fenlon cut a lone figure walking back down the touchline, shaking hands with some young fans leaning out from the Jodi those watching on, unaware at the time, were viewing the early stages of what now seems to be the manager’s farewell.





Fenlon has had to endure repeated questioning about his future at Bohemians ever since the club failed to reach agreement with Dundee United over a proposed move to Tannadice. Bohemians were right not to allow the SPL side to plunder their manager. Dundee, punch drunk having hit the Scottish Football Association for a quarter of a million pounds as compensation for Craig Levein, made a mistake in allowing the footballing world know of the war chest they possessed as they set about finding a replacement. Bohs, as was their entitlement, named their price and stood by it. In reflection and having endured near financial ruin some would now say the club missed out on a chance to cash in on its main asset and also allow a manager who had served them well move on to a bigger challenge. Fenlon honoured his contract and remained on the club’s payroll but admitted of feeling let down at the way it was handled. The experience meant his departure from Dalymount was always to be a case of when not if.





Few managers are universally admired and loved by fans; it’s not possible such is the diversity of opinion that sport has a skill for facilitating. But the bond between Fenlon and the club’s fans has been strong, and rightfully so. Sean Connor’s 3rd place league finish helped in part to erase the disappointment of Gareth Farrelly’s time in charge but it was Fenlon who took the club back to another level. A domestic double within twelve months of taking over, a League and League Cup double the following season, a Setanta Cup in year three with only goal difference seeing the League title eventually leave Phibsboro for Tallaght. A culture had been established where challenging for top honours wasn’t a hope but an expectation and one built on solid footing. But with success comes increased attention and criticism from quarters. Fenlon has been no exception in this regard; critics label him a chequebook manager and point to Shelbourne and the now fragile state of Bohemians as being the cost, near fatal, of the quest for success. Only those with a forensic knowledge of Bohemians budgeting in recent years are qualified to comment but surely there isn’t a manager at any club in the League of Ireland who wouldn’t try to leverage extra finances but ultimately their power of spending is surely defined by those superior to him despite what pressure he inflicts. Irrespective of who was to blame, when serious financial difficulty hit Bohemians Pat Fenlon went beyond the remit of his job to ensure the club did all it could to pull through, and that those affected were looked after. That’s not my view, that’s the view as articulated by players who left Dalymount Park.





Much of the discussion since last Friday has revolved around timing. Why now to leave Dalymount Park? Having got the club through their close season problems so close to the start of the 2011 campaign did Pat find himself on a carousel that he simply couldn’t get off? Does the club’s AGM last week mark a changing of the guard at the club that could too serve as a point in time to facilitate the changing of a manager? Does he see a climate developing in which he can’t or is not willing to work? The apparent complexity of the talks required to end the relationship between employer and employee has meant we’ve had to endure a week of hearsay or views attributed to sources close to either side and are left waiting to hear definitively the parties on the issues involved. If Pat is Celtic bound then when did the possibility come about and is it an offer too good to refuse? He has scouted for the club in the past; in fact there were reports in Scottish papers as far back as January suggesting that he could return to the role in an informal capacity. But what impact would a role in scouting have on hopes to develop one’s management opportunities? Five League of Ireland titles, one FAI Cup, one League Cup and a Setanta Cup means Fenlon will forever be a managerial force in Ireland and boast an impressive CV but what weight would scouting for Celtic bring in securing work as a manager in Scotland or the lower levels of English football in contrast to candidates actively involved in management? They are issues that only he can weigh up. Cards on the table, I’m a fan of Pat Fenlon’s and have been since he was player manager at Shelbourne. I feel his departure would be a loss to the League but Bohemians have shown that they can bounce back from major challenges and have a squad that many managers will feel capable of doing something with. If another chapter in a 121 year old history is nearly completed, Fenlon deserves to be recounted in it positively.