Hoops turn to Glass as Kenny gets axe

Stephen Glass has been put in temporary charge at Shamrock Rovers after the club axed boss Stephen Kenny yesterday.

Monday’s defeat against Bohemians proved the final straw for Kenny’s tenure. His assistant manager, Glass takes charge of team affairs for Friday’s FAI Ford Cup quarter-final against Shelbourne.

Shamrock Rovers 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. We would like to wish take this opportunity to wish Stephen the best for the future.”

Kenny, himself from Tallaght, joined Rovers from Derry City, and took over from Michael O’Neill, who had brought two league titles in a row to the club.

This season Rovers have reached the final of the EA Sports Cup, against Drogheda on September 22, while they also claimed the Leinster Senior Cup this year.

However Rovers bowed out of the Champions League tamely, going out to Lithuanian side Ekranas.

And ultimately, it was the Hoops’ erratic league displays this season which have cost Kenny his job.

The Hoops lie fourth in the Airtricity League, 13 points adrift of leaders Sligo Rovers. The 1-0 derby defeat to Bohs at Tallaght this week prompted the Rovers board to move.

Meanwhile one former Shamrock Rovers manager has been celebrating this week. Noel King was jubilant after the young Boys in Green pulled off a 4-2 success with just nine-men.

While qualification for next year’s UEFA finals was already out of reach, King says it points to a bright future. “I refuse to believe the notion Ireland is not producing technically good players,” stressed King. “The skill levels on the pitch from the players, many of whom are still teenagers, was just as good, if not superior, to the Italians.”

Former Italy and AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi now in charge of elite talent for the Italian association, requested access to the Irish dressing room to laud King’s kids for the manner they went about their triumph. “It was a nice touch by such a legendary figure,” said King.