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Bucko's Back

Once a Saint? Pat's confirm Buckley's return as manager

Liam Buckley has been announced as St Patrick’s Athletic’s new manager after the Inchicore club parted ways with Pete Mahon.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC have re-appointed Liam Buckley as club manager after announcing their decision to part ways with Pete Mahon this morning.

Buckley, who has been on the game’s periphery since Sporting Fingal’s demise last year, has agreed a two-year deal which will see him take charge of the Saints until the end of 2013.

The move to bring back Buckley, who steered Pat’s to their last league title in 1998/99,  is likely to be seen as a positive one in Inchicore despite the club’s well-publicised lack of finance.

“It’s a great honour to be invited back to manage St Patrick’s Athletic FC,” the Dubliner said. “I am really looking forward to putting a squad together and challenging for the 2012 season.”

Mahon took over at Pat’s following Jeff Kenna’s resignation in late 2009, guiding the club to mid-table finishes in his two seasons in charge.

The low point of his tenure came this summer when a large number of his players threatened to boycott the club’s Europa League tie against Karpaty Lviv in protest against inadequate compensation.

The players were talked down hours before kick-off, but Pat’s went on to lose the game 3-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate.

“St Patrick’s Athletic are most grateful to Pete Mahon for retaining the Club’s position in the Premier Division when he was appointed manager late in the 2009 season,” club chairman Garrett Kelleher said.

“The Club has enjoyed good success under the stewardship of Pete, particularly in Europe, and we wish him every success in the future.”

Buckley returns to Richmond Park following spells in charge of Athlone Town, Shamrock Rovers and Sporting Fingal.

“Liam Buckley has committed to St Patrick’s Athletic for two years despite the budgetary constraints of these challenging times,” Kelleher added.

I am enthused by the energy, creativity and passion that Liam brings to the Club and believe that that those attributes are cause for a bright future for St Patrick’s Athletic in the years to come.

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