Derry City sack manager

Derry City manager Kevin Mahon has been released by the northern club following a string of poor league results, which have seen them slip to second from bottom in the Premier Division table.

News of Mahon's departure emerged just before Derry's friendly with Welsh club TNS tonight, at the Brandywell.

Tuesday's four-nil loss to Longford at Flancare Park was thought to have been the last straw for chairman Jim Roddy.

Derry celebrated success by winning the Carlsberg FAI Cup last season but their league form fell away and they got caught up in battle against relegation.

Mahon was Derry's longest-serving manager since the club joined the League of Ireland.

Speculation that Dermot Keely announced the ending of his term as Kildare County boss just before the start of tonight's First Division clash between County and Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds is rife.

A new Derry boss will be unveiled on Monday and Keely would certainly relish a chance to revive the Foyleside club.

Keely, who played in the Irish League as a defender with Glentoran, guided Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk to league honours.