Rovers return for Trevor Croly

Trevor Croly has been unveiled as the new manager of Shamrock Rovers, signing a two-year deal.

The former assistant manager was confirmed as the new Hoops boss at a press conference in Tallaght today, taking over from now Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws, who had been overseeing affairs following the dismissal of Stephen Kenny.

Croly was assistant manager at Rovers for two and a half years having been appointed by Michael O’Neill when the current Northern Ireland boss took over in Tallaght in 2009.

He then moved on to the assistant job at St Patrick’s Athletic last season before being lured back to Rovers.

The 38-year-old watched from the Pat’s bench as the Saints lost Sunday’s cup final to Derry City, a result which meant that he is now joining a club without European football.

It was clear to see in the build-up to the final that the relationship was strained between Saints manager Liam Buckley and Croly, with Buckley commenting that things had been “uncomfortable” between the pair in the last couple of weeks.

He left the Rovers number two job under Michael O’Neill in the summer of 2011 just prior to Rovers’ remarkably successful European campaign and had joined Pat’s in December of last year.

“Over the past few months my football relationship with the manager changed somewhat and that ultimately led to this decision," said Croly at the time of his departure from the Rovers dugout.

The Rovers board have appointed a young and highly respected individual but it is a different appointment than the last two in Tallaght; Croly lacks Michael O’Neill’s top level playing career and brief managerial experience or the extensive managerial experience Stephen Kenny had with Longford Town, Bohemians, Derry City and Dunfermline previously.

Croly has, however, managed the Irish PFAI team in the annual FIFPro Winter Tournament, a tournament that attempts to get out of contract players new clubs.

Current Shamrock Rovers player Colin Hawkins has been installed as his assistant manager, with Tim Dalton as goalkeeping coach. Dublin GAA player Philip McMahon has been appointed as strength and conditioning coach with Noel White taking on head of football operations. Former Shels defender Tony McCarthy takes over as physio with former Shels and Ireland kit man Malcolm Slattery completing the backroom lineup.