Soccer:Derry City manager Stephen Kenny will succeed Michael O'Neill in the hot seat at Shamrock Rovers over the coming days after informing the Candystripes this morning that he was leaving the Brandywell.
The 40-year-old Dubliner was in his second spell at the club, but was approached by Shamrock Rovers after O’Neill departed at the end of the Europa League campaign.
Rovers are expected to have to pay compensation to Derry City for Kenny, who had a year left on his deal with the club.
He had also been offered a contract extension, but told City chairman Philip O’Doherty this morning that he was leaving the club.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, O’Doherty said: “I met him this morning at 9.45 and his first words were ‘It’s time to go home’. It’s very sad and Stephen was quite emotional himself.
“The club are very disappointed but we understand that Shamrock Rovers are his hometown club and Stephen lived in Tallaght until he was 20 years of age.
“It took him a long time to make a decision and I suppose that’s testimony to how close he was to the people of Derry. But when the Michael O’Neill thing started to take place, we all suspected that there would be an approach. It’s very disappointing but I can understand it too.
“If it had been any other club, I would have been telling Stephen to wise up but Shamrock Rovers come from Tallaght and it was going to be an attraction for him.”
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