Title-winning Shels boss Fenlon takes time out to consider future

SHELBOURNE manager Pat Fenlon wouldn’t rush any decision on his future in football.

Fenlon has much to contemplate after Shels finished a difficult season on a high by beating Bohemians on Friday night to win the eircom League on goal difference from Derry, whose former manager Stephen Kenny saw his new club Dunfermline get a rare win in the SPL on Saturday.

Said Fenlon: “In the next few days, I’ll sit down, talk to the people who are close to me and we’ll make a decision then. In fairness to the players, they have been fabulous on the pitch. I’m delighted for everyone that we’ve won. I still think it’s a shambles off the pitch but hopefully that will change with the (FAI/League) merger.”

While the league campaign was dogged by controversies over the rule book, suspended players, disputed points and Dublin City going out of business, Shels also had to contend with recurring financial problems. Now, chief executive Ollie Byrne insists he can get the club on a sound financial footing within 10 days.

“Please God he can,” said Fenlon. “It’s a fantastic club and hopefully it can get itself sorted out quickly.”

Shels captain Owen Heary paid tribute to Fenlon, likening him to Martin O’Neill. “He’s been brilliant. I don’t think any other manager would have stuck around. He got offered a big job at Bohs but he stuck with it because he had one focus like the rest of us and that was winning the league. I’m sure Pat will get more enjoyment out of this than anyone else.

“Pat took things to another level since I’ve been here. The professionalism at the club, the way he treats players, I actually think he’s more of a Martin O’ Neill-type manager. I know he loves that because he likes Martin O’Neill. His whole professionalism is second to none and he can take great credit from winning the league. He’s kept his mouth shut on a few things over the year when he probably felt like letting it all out.”

Amid speculation the championship-winning side could be on the verge of breaking up, Heary says he hopes that doesn’t prove the case.

“No-one wants to leave the club. We’re in the Champions’ League and Setanta Cup next year. I just hope that everything gets sorted out and if it does this club will keep going places.”

Shelbourne’s Stuart Byrne launched a blistering attack on outgoing Derry boss Stephen Kenny in front of the RTÉ cameras after full time on Friday night, and later described as “despicable” what he characterised as attempts by Kenny to gee up Bohemians players in the days leading up to Friday’s game. Kenny denied the allegation.

Byrne, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl a week ago, later quipped he might have been a bit “post-natal” but there was no mistaking his demand that, after a turbulent season, the league must get its house in order.

“It can’t happen again because people’s livelihoods are at stake. It’s a short career and people sacrifice a lot for their profession and they deserve a little bit better back. This title was the best by a long shot. We just want to win the silver thing at the end of it all. People say we’ve won it by goal difference but I feel we won it by three points. But we can’t have a repeat of all that again.”

Meanwhile the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland announced the nominees for the PFAI Awards for season 2006.

The winner of each category will be announced at the PFAI Awards Banquet next Sunday in Dublin when Denis Irwin, is guest of honour.

Premier Division Nominees: G Beckett (Derry City); O Cahill (Shelbourne); J Gamble (Cork City); J Gavin (Drogheda United); C Martyn (Derry City); J N’Do (Shelbourne).

First Division Nominees: P Hughes (Dundalk); B Murphy (Shamrock Rovers); A Price (Shamrock Rovers).

Young Player Nominees: K Deery (Derry City); P Keegan (Drogheda United); R O’Donovan (Cork City).

Referee Nominees: A Kelly, I Stokes, P Tuite.

Premier Division Team of the Season: D Forde (Derry City); O Heary (Shelbourne); A Bennett (Cork City); D Kelly (Derry City); D Murphy (Cork City); J Gamble (Cork City); C Martyn (Derry City); J N’Do (Shelbourne); J Byrne (Shelbourne); G Beckett (Derry City); O Cahill (Shelbourne).

First Division Team of the Season 2006: B Murphy (Shamrock Rovers); J Flanagan (Dundalk); D Breen (Cobh Ramblers); A Price (Shamrock Rovers); J Minnock (Finn Harps); R Cretaro (Galway Utd) ; C Foley (Galway Utd); S Finn (Dundalk); P Hughes (Dundalk); C Gethins (Galway Utd); D O’Brien (Galway Utd).