Kenny keeps Rovers waiting

STEPHEN KENNY was last night mulling over the offer to manage Shamrock Rovers, though the club remain confident of getting their man.

The reigning Airtricity League champions had hoped to unveil Kenny as their new boss at a Tallaght Stadium press conference today. But a club source said last night that conference was now “very unlikely” to go ahead.

A Tallaght native, 40-year-old Kenny has a year left to run on his contract at Derry City. But that was never an issue as Rovers are happy to pay the €25,000 release clause.

Kenny, who began his coaching career at non-league Tallaght Town, and has also managed Longford, Bohemians and Dunfermline, remains most likely to agree a deal to succeed Michael O’Neill, who left the club after three successful years last week.

Kenny, however, is believed to be deliberating over the decision to uproot his wife and four young children who are well settled in Donegal.

Meanwhile, former Sligo Rovers striker Eoin Doyle yesterday signed for Hibernian, thus following the path to Scotland of team-mate Richie Ryan who last month signed for fellow SPL side Dundee United.

The 23-year-old Dubliner is Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon’s first signing. The deal will keep striker Doyle, who scored 25 goals for Sligo last season, at Easter Road until the end of the 2012/13 season.

Doyle will not be eligible to play until January when the transfer window in Britain opens.

The Airtricity League yesterday released its fixtures for the revised 12-team Premier Division for the 2012 season.

The fixtures for the First Division won’t be issued until after February 12 when the licensing process is complete as the FAI has received several applications from clubs interested in joining the league.

The season will run from March 2 until October 26. Due to the Republic of Ireland’s involvement in Euro 2012, the mid-summer break is longer than usual, running from June 5-21.

Shamrock Rovers begin the defence of their title with an away game at Drogheda United. The pick of the opening weekend’s fixtures, however, is a repeat of the final game of last season — the FAI Ford Cup final — when newly promoted Shelbourne host Sligo Rovers, who beat them on penalties at the Aviva Stadium last November.

Last season’s First Division champions Cork City travel to UCD in their first game while Monaghan United, back in the top flight for the first time in ten years, host Dundalk in a north-east derby.

Cork welcome Shamrock Rovers to Turner’s Cross in the third round of games on March 16.

In what promises to be an intriguing final round of games on October 26, Sligo Rovers play Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

All fixtures will be subject to the final decisions of the FAI Licensing Committee.