Cork City manager Tim Clancy: St Pats' decision to sack Jon Daly is crazy
CRAZY: Tim Clancy believes the League of Ireland has lost one of its best coaches in Jon Daly. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Tim Clancy believes the League of Ireland has lost one of its best coaches in Jon Daly and described St Patrick’s Athletic's decision to part company with their FAI Cup winning manager as “crazy.”
Daly was sacked by Pats on Tuesday following their seventh loss of the Premier Division season – a 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers on Monday – which saw them slip to seventh in the table.
It was Clancy who initially brought the former Rangers striker to Inchicore, appointing him as his assistant manager when he took over the Saints back in December 2021.
Daly would go on to succeed Clancy last May and led Pats to FAI Cup glory with a 3-1 victory over Bohemians in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Aviva Stadium last November.
But after a difficult start to the 2024 campaign in which they have won just five of their 15 games, Pats decided to part company with the 41-year-old.
“I think the league has lost probably one of the best managers and coaches in the country,” insisted Clancy.
“He worked with me, and you could see the level of the coach that he was, the preparation, the detail that he goes into, and his mannerisms were unbelievable.
“He got the job after I left this time last year and he wins them a cup, which is only the fifth in the history of the club.
“For him to be gone after 15 games this season, I just think is crazy. Three Premier Division managers gone after what? A third of the season?
“Expectation levels of a lot of clubs in the country aren’t in line with reality. Shamrock Rovers are still miles ahead of everyone else and if they do hit top gear again this year, I think they can go on and win their fifth league title.
“Sligo. John Russell is doing an unbelievable job up there but the expectations are to try and challenge which it shouldn’t be.
“Reality of where clubs are and where they want to be isn’t aligned at the minute and there are a lot of managers under pressure I don’t think should be anywhere near under pressure.
“I think it’s premature. I think he is an unbelievable manager and coach, and you will see that in the years to come with the career he is going to go on and have.”
On a day in which Stephen O’Donnell was surprisingly named as Bohemians assistant manager, Clancy was asked if a reunion with Daly at Cork City could be a possibility.
“And who am I getting rid of down here?” he queried before adding: “No, no, I don’t think so. Jon’s going back, his family are still in Scotland so I know he’s going back home, and I think he will probably be back in a job pretty soon as a manager himself.”
St Pats have made former Republic of Ireland manager, and five-time League of Ireland Premier Division winning boss Stephen Kenny as their number one target to replace Daly.
And while Clancy was critical of their decision to fire his former assistant, he would praise their reported ambition to chase Kenny.
“I’ve no idea who’s going in or whatever else, but it is brilliant ambition from Pats if they can get Stephen Kenny in,” added Clancy.
“He’s the benchmark for domestic managers in this country with what he’s done domestically for multiple teams, internationally with the U21s and senior squad.
“Stephen is the bar where all the rest of us want to try and get to. If he’s back in the league it will be unbelievable for the league.
"But I have no idea if that’s in Stephen’s plans or even if it’s in Pats’ plans either.”
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