Brian Kerr: 'My relationship with Stephen hasn’t changed but his relationship with me might have changed'

A previously strong rapport between the pair deteriorated when Kenny took offence to the criticism delivered by Kerr of his Ireland reign while operating as a Virgin Media pundit.

Thu, 16 May, 2024 - 02:30

John Fallon

Brian Kerr insists he has no issue with Stephen Kenny but is aware, albeit indirectly, that the relationship is being viewed differently from the other side.

Both were Ireland managers who worked at St Patrick’s Athletic and will cross paths again if Saints owner Garrett Kelleher succeeds in enticing Kenny into their managerial vacancy.

A previously strong rapport between the pair deteriorated when Kenny took offence to the criticism delivered by Kerr of his Ireland reign while operating as a Virgin Media pundit.

Given Kerr’s lifelong connection with St Pat’s – he won two league titles as manager, returned as director of football and is a guest in the directors’ box – fears were broached about his presence acting as an impediment to Kenny accepting the offer.

The man labelled a footballing God by Damien Duff debunked that theory over the weekend but there’s no anticipation of a shared purpose of reviving the Saints healing the pain felt by Kenny.

From Kerr’s perspective, he has no insight about the particular gripe Kenny bears, but the 71-year-old continues to make himself available should the younger man reopen the channels of communication.

Those were activated by Kenny at various junctures of his coaching career, especially when he was between jobs along the way to the ultimate progression of becoming Ireland boss in 2020.

“No,” Kerr asserted when asked if he’d heard directly from the 52-year-old about the supposed unfairness he attributed to the pundit’s analysis.

“My relationship with Stephen hasn’t changed but his relationship with me might have changed.

“Some people take offence to what you give as an honest opinion as an analyst but that’s up to him.

“I’ve to do my job by saying things based on my knowledge, experience and my view of the game. It’s as simple as that.

“There’s lots of people around the game I’ve been involved with. At this stage, they’ve usually played for me at some stage and Stephen was one of those.

“Once they move into management, life moves on and we’re all doing different things, you don’t necessarily have day-to-day relationships with them.

“But when they’re in work, if they want a bit of advice and they think you might be able to help them with something, the majority know that I’d make myself available when asked.

“If Stephen chose to, I would give him the type of advice I’ve given to him and other managers in the past. It's up to him to do that.”

Kenny’s desire to land a job overseas hasn’t materialised since the FAI ended his employment almost seven months ago. That difficulty is one Kerr can empathise with from his similar experience in 2005, waiting almost four years before resuming a managerial role with Faroe Islands.

"People think there will be loads of jobs available to you because you're an international manager,” Kerr opined.

“But the truth of it is, if you're looking at the UK market, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people looking for every job that is available.

"Four players drop out of professional clubs every year in the UK – that’s 360 across the 92 clubs – and they’re all seeking coaching jobs too.

"Every coach that is out of work that has maybe worked in the previous 10 years is looking for work so it's not so easy to get a job without a reputation as a player or a manager who has achieved something.”

He added his own perspective on the goldfish bowl of the managerial market.

"I was probably reluctant to go to England because I was unlikely to get a Premier League job, only lower down in the Championship or League One.

“However, there’s not much loyalty from owners. They want results early, with little time for team-building and putting an imprint on a club.”