Half a dozen in the running for Harps job
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Finn Harps Chairman Joey O’Leary has revealed that he and his fellow of Board of Directors have compiled a shortlist of six candidates they see as possible replacements for James Gallagher, who was relieved of his managerial duties in the aftermath of Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Longford Town.
The defeat was the fifth of the season in all competitions for Harps, who have amassed a measly three points from seven league outings and failed to pick up a single win.
Home draws against Limerick, Monaghan and Salthill Devon represented the only games where Harps picked up a result, leaving them fifteen points behind pacesetters Cork City with the first series of games not even completed.
Speaking to the Donegal News, the Harps Chairman explained why the decision needed to be made at this stage of the season as he felt with the players currently assembled at Finn Park and the amount of games still left in the season that something could yet be salvaged.
He said: “I definitely feel there is a lot more in the team, there is a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, but we weren’t really seeing the progress we would’ve liked to have made. With seven games into the season and given the start we made, we felt we had to make a decision sooner rather than later.
“This is a big season in the First Division with two teams receiving automatic promotion and a play-off for a third. We all know it’s a difficult league to compete in but we need to be serious about getting Finn Harps back among the top four or five clubs.”
Gallagher guided Harps to two consecutive eighth placed finishes in the last two seasons, having first taken over on a caretaker role following the resignation of Paul Hegarty in May 2009. This season was to be his second full campaign at the helm but after only seven league games it has come to an end. The Meenlaragh man had to work off a stringent budget during his time in charge of the Ballybofey club, but gained praise for his tireless commitment and dedication to the club to carry on working in what appeared such thankless circumstances.
As both a player and manager for Harps, he wore his heart on his sleeve, giving everything for the cause throughout the highs and the lows.
And as the focus now switches to who will replace him, one thing that seems a given is the next manager should possess one commodity Gallagher perhaps didn’t – experience.
Among the names mooted at this early stage include Dermot Keely, who guided Harps to promotion in 1996. The Dubliner stepped aside from his role in charge of Shelbourne last year and, while he remains on at Tolka Park as a Youth Team manager, it is reported he is now keen to get back into first-team management.
Other names include former Harps midfielder Donal O'Brien, who masterminded Cockhill Celtic to their first ever Ulster Senior League title last year and then stunned Galway United in the EA Sports Cup at Terryland Park last month. O’Brien was thought to have been a possibility to take charge from the start of the season before the Board reappointed Gallagher in November.
There are also those on Finnside who would love to see the return of Felix Healy, who helped Harps to First Division glory in 2004, though it's not known if the Derryman would be interested in a return to the League of Ireland.
Harps have a month to get a new manager in place and the Board are keen not to rush into anything, though they would, for obvious reasons, want to get things moving fairly quickly.
For now, club captain Kevin McHugh and ‘A’ team manager Paddy Foy will take temporary charge. “We wanted to be very honest with James and we didn’t approach anybody while he was still in charge, but we have approached several individuals since and made a few more inquiries,” added O’Leary. “There are so many factors to take into consideration. Obviously James had to work under a tight budget and the new manager will have to do the same. There are some big names in Irish football but it’s a question if we can afford them.
“Preferably, we’d like it to be someone who is northwest-based for all the obvious reasons like taking training and having a prior knowledge of the players and so on, but it’s certainly not a must and we’re keeping a very open mind.”
The defeat was the fifth of the season in all competitions for Harps, who have amassed a measly three points from seven league outings and failed to pick up a single win.
Home draws against Limerick, Monaghan and Salthill Devon represented the only games where Harps picked up a result, leaving them fifteen points behind pacesetters Cork City with the first series of games not even completed.
Speaking to the Donegal News, the Harps Chairman explained why the decision needed to be made at this stage of the season as he felt with the players currently assembled at Finn Park and the amount of games still left in the season that something could yet be salvaged.
He said: “I definitely feel there is a lot more in the team, there is a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, but we weren’t really seeing the progress we would’ve liked to have made. With seven games into the season and given the start we made, we felt we had to make a decision sooner rather than later.
“This is a big season in the First Division with two teams receiving automatic promotion and a play-off for a third. We all know it’s a difficult league to compete in but we need to be serious about getting Finn Harps back among the top four or five clubs.”
Gallagher guided Harps to two consecutive eighth placed finishes in the last two seasons, having first taken over on a caretaker role following the resignation of Paul Hegarty in May 2009. This season was to be his second full campaign at the helm but after only seven league games it has come to an end. The Meenlaragh man had to work off a stringent budget during his time in charge of the Ballybofey club, but gained praise for his tireless commitment and dedication to the club to carry on working in what appeared such thankless circumstances.
As both a player and manager for Harps, he wore his heart on his sleeve, giving everything for the cause throughout the highs and the lows.
And as the focus now switches to who will replace him, one thing that seems a given is the next manager should possess one commodity Gallagher perhaps didn’t – experience.
Among the names mooted at this early stage include Dermot Keely, who guided Harps to promotion in 1996. The Dubliner stepped aside from his role in charge of Shelbourne last year and, while he remains on at Tolka Park as a Youth Team manager, it is reported he is now keen to get back into first-team management.
Other names include former Harps midfielder Donal O'Brien, who masterminded Cockhill Celtic to their first ever Ulster Senior League title last year and then stunned Galway United in the EA Sports Cup at Terryland Park last month. O’Brien was thought to have been a possibility to take charge from the start of the season before the Board reappointed Gallagher in November.
There are also those on Finnside who would love to see the return of Felix Healy, who helped Harps to First Division glory in 2004, though it's not known if the Derryman would be interested in a return to the League of Ireland.
Harps have a month to get a new manager in place and the Board are keen not to rush into anything, though they would, for obvious reasons, want to get things moving fairly quickly.
For now, club captain Kevin McHugh and ‘A’ team manager Paddy Foy will take temporary charge. “We wanted to be very honest with James and we didn’t approach anybody while he was still in charge, but we have approached several individuals since and made a few more inquiries,” added O’Leary. “There are so many factors to take into consideration. Obviously James had to work under a tight budget and the new manager will have to do the same. There are some big names in Irish football but it’s a question if we can afford them.
“Preferably, we’d like it to be someone who is northwest-based for all the obvious reasons like taking training and having a prior knowledge of the players and so on, but it’s certainly not a must and we’re keeping a very open mind.”
