Season Preview 2008: Bohemians

For the second year running it has been a pre-season of considerable change at Dalymount Park, with a new manager coming in and sweeping changes being made to the playing staff.

The dismissal of Sean Connor just five weeks after the end of the 2007 campaign came as a surprise to most. While many Bohs fans remained concerned about the style of football being played under Connor, the former Sligo Rovers boss looked to have bought himself at least another season by leading the club to a third place finish in the league and also to the final of the League Cup.

However in mid-December the Bohemians board announced that Connor had been relieved of his duties - just 13 months after taking up the job. The exact reasons for his departure were never disclosed, however, rumours suggest that the decision was made not solely on what was happening on the pitch.

The club wasted little time in appointing his successor with former Bohs midfielder and ex-Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon confirmed as his replacement three days before Christmas. His appointment met with a mixed reaction from the fans, with many still aggrieved at the fact that Fenlon had turned the job down back in 2006. Most, however, were in agreement that he was indeed the man to bring the glory days back to Dalymount Park.

Unlike his predecessor, Fenlon has inherited a solid platform on which to build. Bohs boasted the meanest defence in the top flight last season, conceding just 17 goals in 33 league games. However, while keeping the ball out of their own net wasn’t a problem, finding it at the other end of the pitch was, with the team racking up a measly 35 goals from their 33 league games – the poorest return of anyone in the top four and just two better than bottom of the table Longford Town.

Fenlon, a regular at Dalymount Park during the second half of last season, moved quickly to remedy this by bringing in Irish international striker Jason Byrne on a free transfer from Cardiff City. Byrne was an integral part of Fenlon’s success at Shelbourne, notching up a total of 83 goals in 122 games during his four years with the club and finishing top scorer in the League of Ireland for four consecutive seasons.

Byrne was just one of four new players to come in during the close season. Dublin-born midfielder Glen Cronin arrived on a free transfer from Chester City, while defender Ken Oman and winger Killian Brennan both joined from Derry City. A deal is also in place for Bohs to sign American goalkeeper Chris Konopka, subject to the granting of a work permit.

The close season period was also a busy time for departures with no less than 11 players being shown the door. Most notably, left-back Dessie Byrne made the short trip across Dublin to join St Patrick’s Athletic, while midfielder Stephen Rice signed on at rivals Shamrock Rovers.

Fenlon will be well aware that the fans won’t tolerate another season of transition and success, together with good football, will be demanded immediately. It’s now been four seasons since the club last won any silverware and, despite the close season upheaval, expectations among the Gypsies faithful are high. With the club having one of the strongest squads and biggest wage bills in the league, not to mention access to some of the finest training facilities in the country, a serious title challenge is expected.

The club has been handed a tough start with a tricky away trip to face Galway United first up this Friday night (March 7th), followed by a local derby against fellow title hopefuls St Pat’s at Dalymount Park on March 14th.

Players In:
Glenn Cronin (Chester City)
Killian Brennan (Derry City)
Jason Byrne (Cardiff City)
Chris Konopka* (Kansas City Wizards)
Ken Oman (Derry City)
* Subject to the granting of a work permit

Players Out:
Alan Blayney (Released)
Dessie Byrne (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Fergal Harkin (Retired)
Chris Kingsberry (Lisburn Distillery)
Alan Lynch (Longford Town)
Ryan McCann (Queen of the South)
Mark O'Brien (Shelbourne)
Dean Pooley (Released)
Stephen Rice (Shamrock Rovers)
Dean Richardson (Released)
Davitt Walsh (Ballymena United)