ST PAT’S are prepared to wait to land Stephen Kenny as the club’s new manager.
Club owner Garrett Kelleher – who has taken charge of the recruitment process – is a big fan of the former Ireland boss and this is not the first time he has wanted to hire Kenny.
But this is the first occasion it has looked like a realistic option with Kenny giving the offer due consideration having previously rebuffed approaches from Bohemians and Dundalk.
Kelleher ideally wants someone in place ahead of Friday’s home game against Derry City– and there is another candidate in the frame – but Kenny has not been set a deadline to accept the job.
St Pat’s also play Shelbourne at Richmond Park on Monday and Kelleher is prepared to leave Sean O’Connor – who oversaw a 2-2 draw with Shamrock Rovers on Friday – in place for longer if it means he lands his top target.
Kenny had wanted to test himself in club management abroad, following a previous mixed spell with Dunfermline, but is now reassessing.
It is understood that Stephen Rice – who played under Kenny at Bohemians and was part of his Ireland staff – had been spoken to about working with him again but is unlikely to take up the position.
Brian Gartland’s exit from Dundalk– where he was the club’s Head of Football Operations – has led to speculation he could team up with Kenny at Richmond Park.
It is understood his departure follows a disagreement with Dundalk owner Brian Ainscough.
After nine-and-a-half seasons as a player at Oriel Park, Gartland – signed by Kenny – stepped into the off-the-pitch role ahead of the 2023 season.
When Stephen O’Donnell was sacked in April, he and first-team coach Liam Burns were placed in caretaker charge for three games.
Noel King was then brought in as manager but the pair were more visible and vocal than him in the dugout which is believed to have been the source of some tension.
And, although a supporters club has called on Ainscough to reverse his decision to appoint King on a contract until the end of next season, Gartland, 37, has now parted company with the border club.
Ainscough said: “Brian will always be a legendary figure at Oriel Park and the decision to part ways wasn’t easy.
“I would like to thank him for his commitment and dedication to the club over the past 11 years and we wish him the very best of luck in the future.”
After joining from Portadown in the summer of 2013, Gartland helped Dundalk win the league five times, and the FAI Cup and League Cup three times each, as well as twice reaching the group stages of the Europa League.
After back-to-back defeats, Dundalk are now six points adrift of rivals Drogheda United at the foot of the Premier Division table.