PAT FENLON SAYS he would be open to becoming the new manager of Irish League club Linfield but insists reports linking him to the job are purely speculated at the moment.
Former Bohemians, Shelbourne and Derry City manager Fenlon, who has been out of work since resigning from his post with Scottish Premiership side Hibernian last November, was yesterday named as early favourite to replace David Jeffrey at the Blues.
Jeffrey has held the reigns for the past 17 years, winning nine league title along the way, but announced over the weekend that he will be leaving at the end of current season.
A former Linfield player who spent two seasons with the Belfast club, Fenlon hasn’t ruled out returning — but revealed any suggestions that he is close to agreeing a deal are wide of the mark.
“I think it’s just the fact that I’ve played for Linfield and I’m not working at the moment so people are putting two and two together but I haven’t spoken to anyone at Linfield and there is nothing to it at the moment,” he told TheScore.ie.
“I spoke to Davy Jeffrey last week because we still keep in touch. I’m disappointed he is gone. The year I left he went in as assistant manager, which shows you how long ago it was and to be able to stay managing a team like that for that length of time is some achievement.
“I said before when I came home from Scotland that I’d be interested in managing again. What level, I’m open to that as well. We’ll see what comes up. There are a couple of other little things that are bubbling away.
“From my own point of view, there is nothing in it at the moment though.”
Linfield are traditionally seen as a Protestant club and , just yesterday, The Belfast Telegraph led with the headline: “Catholic manager Fenlon tipped to take over at Linfield”.
Fenlon isn’t concerned by religious issues, however, and says he has nothing but fond memories from his time there.
“I played there for two-and-a-half years and the people at the club and the supporters were fantastic to me,” said Fenlon.
It’s a fabulous club and I said as a player that it was the best club I played for. My most enjoyable time as a player was at Linfield. You never know in football I suppose.
“I was fortunate that when I went there in the first four months we won the league on the last day of the season against the Glens and we won the Irish Cup as well so it worked out quite well for me.
“It’s not something I’ve thought about because I honestly couldn’t see Davy going, he’s been there that long.”
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