Derry target Fenlon as manager

National League: As the two clubs prepare for the games that will decide the destination of this year's National League title the Derry City board have made it known to Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon he is their preferred replacement for his current rival Stephen Kenny.

The two parties have yet to hold direct talks about the post but Derry City officials have apparently made it clear to the Dubliner he has first refusal on the Brandywell job once the FAI Cup final is out of the way and Kenny moves on to Dunfermline.

It is not clear whether Fenlon, who had at one point agreed to move to Bohemians before undergoing a last-minute change of mind, and who is also believed to have at least one offer from a Danish club, will carry out his threat to leave Shelbourne over the financial problems that have dogged the club this season.

Nor is it known whether he would be prepared to move his family to Derry which, after Kenny did so, is virtually certain to be a prerequisite for taking on the job at this point.

However, if Fenlon finally does decide to walk away from Tolka Park then the opportunity to take over the team tied with his own at the top of the table ahead of this evening's final round of games might well prove too good to turn down.

His options have certainly been limited by Bohemians' decision to appoint former Sligo Rovers manager Seán Connor as Gareth Farrelly's successor.

The club will officially introduce their new man at a press conference in Dalymount Park this morning.

The function will be crammed into what is already a hectic day for a club where the current coaching and playing staff are focused on preparing for an evening on which they could deprive their rivals of the title.

As it happens, Shelbourne skipper Owen Heary said yesterday that Kenny has been phoning some of the Bohemians players over the last few days attempting to motivate them ahead of this evening's game.

The Derry City manager denied it last night but when the suggestion was put to Bohemians coach Alan Caffrey he laughed the idea off.

"He needn't have bothered," he said. "The players will be up for this because of the hassle they (Shelbourne) have caused us over the last few weeks, because there'll be a new manager looking on and because . . . well, because they can stop Shelbourne winning the league, of course."

For his part, Fenlon, who is believed to have privately opposed Ollie Byrne's attempts to have the other Bohemians game replayed, insists he is happy his side's critical game is against their old rivals.

"I've been in this situation with the title coming down to the last game about five or six times between being a player and a manager and I'm delighted, to be honest, that it's Bohemians we're playing on this occasions.

"The fact it's them means there's be a real sense of occasion and that's the way it should be on a night like this."

Fenlon could be forgiven for taking some encouragement too from the clubs' respective injury lists. While he is likely to be without Gary O'Neill, who picked up a knock in training on Wednesday, the visitors won't have Fergal Harkin, Stephen Ward, Dessie Byrne, Vinny Arkins or Aidan Collins (all injured), while Aidan O'Keefe who is suspended.

Derry City, meanwhile, have Darren Kelly and Ken Oman available for the game against Cork City after the pair came through training yesterday without any apparent problems.

Cork manager Damien Richardson is without Joe Gamble and Colin O'Brien (both suspended) for a game which is still vital for his team in terms of their quest for European football.

"It could be a mythical night for us," says Kenny, "one of those nights that passes into folklore.

"Already this season the players have gone and won in Gothenburg when Derry had never won away in Europe before, they've beaten Gretna and done themselves proud against Paris.

"It's not all in our hands now but it might just still turn out to be the sort of season that turns into a legend for a club. We'll certainly be looking to do our bit to make it happen."

FIXTURES (all 7.45): National League - Bray Wanderers v Sligo Rovers, Derry City v Cork City, Drogheda United v Waterford United, Longford Town v St Patrick's, Shelbourne v Bohemians (Live on RTÉ2). English League: Championship: Cardiff v QPR. League Two: Chester v Stockport.