St. Pat's appoint Buckley as manager

St. Patrick’s Athletic have announced Liam Buckley as their new manager after the club decided not to renew the contract of Pete Mahon. Buckley has signed a two-year deal.

Mahon took over in 2009 and led them to a fourth place finish last season, 14 points behind league winners Shamrock Rovers and also led them on a European adventure to the third qualifying round of the Europa League before defeat to FC Karpaty Lviv. St. Pat's were beaten in the FAI Cup semi-finals by Shelbourne. 

The club statement read: The Board of St Patrick's Athletic Football Club wish to advise that they have decided not to renew the managerial contract with Pete Mahon for the upcoming season. 

 

The Board would like to acknowledge the hard work done by Mr Mahon since he took over in 2009, and would also like to take this opportunity to wish him every success in the future.

 

The Board have now appointed former manager and player Liam Buckley as manager of St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club. Liam rejoins St Pat's having won the league in his last reign as manager, while also having previously managed at Athlone Town, Shamrock Rovers, and Sporting Fingal where he won the FAI Cup in 2009.

 

When asked about his new appointment, Liam said, "It's a great honour to be invited back to manage St Patrick's Athletic FC and I am really looking forward to putting a squad together and challenging for the 2012 season."

 

Chairman Garrett Kelleher added “St Patrick's Athletic are most grateful to Pete Mahon for retaining the Club's position in the Premier Division when he was appointed manager late in the 2009 season. 

 

The Club has enjoyed good success under the stewardship of Pete, particularly in Europe, and we wish him every success in the future. Liam Buckley has committed to St Patrick's Athletic for two years despite the budgetary constraints of these challenging times. 

I am enthused by the energy, creativity and passion that Liam brings to the Club and believe that those attributes are cause for a bright future for St Patrick's Athletic in the years to come”.