‘At the moment we are the fourth team in Dublin’ – Stephen Kenny ready to embrace St Pat’s challenge
Newly-appointed manager Stephen Kenny arrives for a St Patrick's Athletic training session at Sport Ireland Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Stephen Kenny admits that he will have to hit the ground running with St Patrick’s Athletic as the new Saints boss prepares for a whirlwind first week in charge.
Former Ireland manager Kenny was today named as the new Pat’s boss, succeeding the FAI Cup-winning Jon Daly, with a contract which is believed to be a record in the League of Ireland in terms of length, six seasons, which will keep him at Richmond Park until 2029.
That long-term deal does give Kenny time to turn things around as he hopes to work with the existing squad but also benefit from an academy which has seen talents like Sam Curtis and Mason Melia excel in the first team.
But the poor form that cost Daly his job – one win in six before the axe fell after a 1-0 loss to Sligo Rovers – remains a concern as Pat’s remain in the bottom half of the table, four points clear of the relegation zone and nine points behind leaders Shelbourne.
League of Ireland Premier Division preview
The seven-game run between now and the mid-season break sees a series of managerial derbies for Kenny as he faces former clubs Derry City, Bohemians, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers and three successive duels with former assistants or proteges like Ruaidhri Higgins (Derry), Damien Duff (Shels) and Alan Reynolds (Bohs).
"It's going to be a tough challenge as a lot of teams are ahead of us, at the moment we are the fourth team in Dublin and at the wrong end of the table, it's a big job ahead to rebuild and to drive the club on,” Kenny said.
"There are exciting plans for the club but we are a long way from that at the moment, because we are at the wrong end of the table and we have some hard work to do.
“I have never been out of work in 25 years, bar a couple of months, so I am used to coaching. It's in your blood. It's such a busy time, you come in one day before you play Derry on a Friday, Shelbourne on a Monday and Bohemians on a Friday. That's what it's about, the passion in the ground, preparing a team and getting ready for that.”
