SHAMROCK ROVERS HAVE sacked under-fire manager Stephen Kenny after less than nine months in charge.
The Tallaght club confirmed the news of Kenny’s departure on Tuesday afternoon, the day after a 1-0 loss against Dublin rivals Bohemians all but ended their hopes of defending their Airtricity League crown.
The defeat was Rovers’ fourth in the league this season, leaving them 13 points adrift of leaders Sligo Rovers with six games to play.
Assistant manager Stephen Glass will take temporary charge of the team ahead of Friday night’s FAI Cup quarter-final against Shelbourne.
In a brief statement, club chairman Jonathan Roche said: “We have not taken this decision lightly and we are extremely disappointed with the turn of events. However, the club feels that this is the right decision at this time, and attention now turns to Friday night’s FAI Ford Cup game against Shelbourne and identifying the next manager of Shamrock Rovers.
“We would like to wish take this opportunity to wish Stephen the best for the future.”
A native of Tallaght, Kenny was headhunted by the Hoops board from Derry City late last year when double league-winning coach Michael O’Neill left to take over as Northern Ireland manager.
Despite strengthening the squad through new signings, Rovers’ form was under Kenny mixed at best and the manager came under immediate scrutiny following a 5-1 defeat against title rivals St Patrick’s Athletic just five games into the new season.
The pressure continued to mount as Rovers failed to reach the heights of previous seasons, losing 4-0 to bitter rivals Bohemians in June and then crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers at the first hurdle against Lithuanian champions FK Ekranas.
