Shamrock Rovers and Kenny part company
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Kenny had come under intense pressure since the summer as his team failed to match the expectations of everyone at the club. A 4-0 away defeat in June to Bohemians and a first stage embarrassing exit from Europe to Ekranas of Lithuania had piled the pressure on Kenny. Rovers had been unbeaten at home in the league all season, drawing eight times, until a 1-0 defeat on Monday to Bohs brought that run to a shuddering half. This was the final straw for the Hoops board. It was Bohemians first ever win against Rovers in Tallaght and meant Rovers had failed to win a home game in the league in four months.
Today Shamrock Rovers chairman Jonathan Roche said: "We have not taken this decision lightly and we are extremely disappointed with the turn of events. However, the club feels that this is the right decision at this time, and attention now turns to Friday night's FAI Ford Cup game against Shelbourne and identifying the next manager of Shamrock Rovers. We would like to wish take this opportunity to wish Stephen the best for the future."
Kenny took the reins of the Tallaght based outfit in December 2011 after Michael O’Neill resigned to take charge of the Northern Ireland national side. O’Neill had raised expectations through the roof by winning two League titles and the Setanta Cup while also guiding Rovers to become the first Irish club to compete in the group stages of the Europa League.
The new manager stated his intent early to play open attractive football and perhaps signalled something of the pressure he was feeling to continue the success of the club and hold the fans gained by their European odyssey by commenting that "winning is not enough to keep the crowds."
The signings of Daryl Kavanagh and Killian Brennan seemed good additions to an all ready strong squad but ultimately the former Derry City boss paid the price for failing to get the best out of the players at his disposal. Heavy losses to Dublin rivals St Patricks Athletic and Bohemians did little to endear him to fans who have become accustomed to being on the opposite end of such results.
Kenny began his managerial career at the age of 27 at Longford Town where he was an immediate success guiding them to the Premier Division and qualifying for the UEFA cup during his three year tenure.
Bohemians noted his potential and appointed him manager in 2001 and the Premier Division title duly followed in the 2002/03 season. After a slow start to the 2004 campaign Bohemians made the somewhat surprising decision to part company.
Derry City snapped up the young manager and he finished runner up twice in the League in 2005 and 2006 and masterminded a 6 game Uefa cup campaign as well as picking up the 2006 FAI cup and two league cups in 2005 and 2006.
The successful stint in charge of the Candystripes brought him to the attention of SPL club Dunfermline Athletic whom he joined in December 2007. Although relegated that season he did take them to the Scottish Cup Final. Following a slow start in the First Division Kenny was sacked after only a year in December 2007.
He then returned to his former club Derry City after the sacking of John Robertson and Kenny once again took up the reins where he added two more league cups in 2008 and 2011 and promotion from the First Division in 2010.
This stage last year, Rovers were facing into a trip to White Hart Lane in the Europa League, were on the way to retaining their league title and had won the Setanta Sports Cup. The comparison with the situation this season is stark as Rovers face a battle now to even qualify for Europe having exited at the very first hurdle this season. They did win the Leinster Senior Cup last week and do have the final of the EA Sports Cup to come later in the month. However, the combination of their poor showing in Europe and their weak attempt at winning the league for a third successive season has been the undoing for Stephen Kenny.
Stephen Glass, Rovers’ assistant manager, will take temporary charge of Rovers ahead of their FAI Ford Cup quarter-final against Shelbourne on Friday night.
