NEWLY-RELEGATED WEXFORD Youths have announced Damian Locke as the new manager of the League of Ireland First Division side.
29-year-old Locke from Tralee, will replace the recently departed Shane Keegan who swapped Wexford for Galway earlier this month, following the Youths’ dramatic promotion/relegation play-off defeat to Drogheda United.
The Ferrycarrig Park club say Locke has over 10 years of coaching experience, and acted as a video analyst for Ireland throughout their successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Locke, who also worked as a coach under Keegan, will be assisted by Will Doyle, as the Youths aim to regain their Premier Division status at the first attempt.
The League of Ireland has been a breeding ground for young managers in recent times with Keegan also getting his break at Wexford when he was 29, while Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradly has only recently turned 32.
Stephen Kenny became the youngest-ever manager to take charge of a League of Ireland side in 1998, when the current Dundalk boss was appointed manager of Longford Town at the tender age of 27.
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