CHARLIE FROM THE STANDS: Baptism of fire for King Kenny!

In a week filled with surprise, drama and big results, there was undoubtedly one League of Ireland headline that captured everyone’s imagination – the return of the Messiah, Stephen Kenny.

In last week’s column, I spoke about how I didn’t feel that a move back to the League would be on Stephen’s radar considering his drive and ambition to achieve at as high a level as possible. However, I was proved wrong as my former manager was appointed boss of St Patrick’s Athletic on a five-year deal.

Stephen had found both admiration and critique during his time as the manager of the Republic of Ireland senior squad, and having left the role in November, had been on the lookout for the next stop on his managerial journey.

And what better way to start your return to the league than with ties against two of the top teams in the League, and former proteges – Ruaidhri Higgins’ Derry City and Damien Duff’s Shelbourne. Two games ended in narrow defeats for Kenny and his new side, who he has barely had time to get to know yet.

But in true League of Ireland nature, the games are coming thick and fast and a Dublin derby awaits this weekend, as he faces another old friend, Alan Reynolds, and his Bohemians side.

From the outset, I haven’t felt that the St Pats’ squad is strong enough to contend at the top end of the season.

Stephen is good, but not that good to turn this group into a title-challenging side. Jon Daly massively overachieved last season with his squad, and with wholesale changes throughout (11 leaving and 10 arriving), you could envisage a year of challenge for the Inchicore club. Don’t get me wrong – there are talented players there. But can it be shaped this season into a form-team? I don’t think so. Hence why I feel that the ‘Kenny effect’ didn’t yield any points from the opening two games.

There were signs of course. The opening 25 minutes against Derry City were excellent. There was intensity, positivity and bite to the performance. Jamie Lennon was the motor of the midfield, allowing Chris Forrester and Jake Mulraney a bit more creative freedom to express themselves. But that was quickly grasped by Derry, who remained in control – if not brilliantly – for the rest of the tie.

From my experience of playing under Stephen, I believe St Pat’s will experience a few things:

Much better recruitment: Stephen will bring in players of a certain elk. They will be hungry and generally have a point to prove, while being open to being shaped by one of the best managers to have ever done it in the League. His ability to spot a player with the naked eye, is incredible.

Increase in standards: From the tea lady and volunteers, to the fitness levels of the playing squad, everyone associated with the club will have a clear understanding of their roles within four weeks. That is a given. This will all feed into the ‘end goal’ – targets which Stephen will certainly set out.

A genuine connection between players and fans: This has been crucial in all of Stephen’s roles. Yes, this will largely depend on results but he will ingrain himself in the fabric of the club and community, and will play a huge role in knitting these relationships.

A strong and competitive environment: The recruitment process will be important to this, but Stephen will not shy away from introducing academy players and players with bite and a stomach for battle. Fail to keep up with that, and they’ll be moved along swiftly.

The fun factor: Culture defines how an environment is created, and how said environment allows people to thrive. Nobody works well under duress – certainly not footballers anyway. Stephen will aim to lift that pressure and replace it with other more light-hearted activities, all to help create a micro-steps towards success.

Listening to Stephen’s interviews this week was interesting. His honesty in discussing the lack of opportunities which came his way contrasted his appetite to get back into management. That’s why I felt that he would look outside of Ireland for his next role – regardless if it was a League One or Two club. I believe that he could have let Garett Kelleher appoint an interim manager and the full-time role would be there again in four months - after all he sacked Jon Daly just 15 matches after winning the FAI Cup.

Either way, Garett Kelleher has gotten the manager he wanted. He has been trailing Stephen for years in the hope he could get him and now that he has, he won’t be letting him go easy - tying him down to one of the largest, if not the largest, contracts ever handed out in the League, one which brings its own pressures. But Stephen will relish that pressure in a League that he knows so well.

Brief stay

In Dundalk, shock news emerged with Noel King departing the club after just 23 days in charge, because of health reasons.

I had hoped that Noel would bring some stability to Dundalk, and instil a bit of belief and stability in the club on and off the pitch. The media’s reporting on his appointment and the subsequent letter from a section of the Dundalk Supporters was appalling. I understand fans weren't happy with his appointment and it is within their right as fans of the football club to voice their opinions but surely, they had better avenues to do so rather than the national media. They have gotten their wish, but as the saying goes - be careful what you wish for.

Brian Gartland, Head of Football Operations was dismissed shortly before the announcement, over a dispute partially influenced by an attempt to sound out Stephen Kenny when it emerged that he was considering the St Pat’s Athletic job. This obviously didn’t go down well with the Dundalk ownership who were quick to let the club legend depart. King’s departure is understood to be down to medical advice which drove the decision.

Of course, our best wishes go to Noel – your health is your wealth, as they say.

But what does it mean now? Liam Burns is currently in charge, and now just three points off ninth-place Drogheda United, a strong appointment will be critical to ensure Dundalk’s Premier Division status. I still believe there is more than enough points to play for, for Dundalk to stay up. However, get the appointment wrong, and it could be trips to Cobh, Kerry and Wexford on the table next season.

Big games ahead

In a big week for the sides featuring in Europe this season, there were some mouth-watering ties which presented big results. Shelbourne picked up seven points from three games, Derry City picked up six and Shamrock Rovers, four.

Having dropped points in several games in the last two months, Shelbourne needed to get back to form and did just that with victories over Waterford and St Pat’s. Shels have impressed me during the double-header weekends so far this season.

Their levels of fitness are being reflected in their late goals, and listening to Damien Duff’s interview before the St Pat’s game, he mentioned how his team selection and use of minutes is set well in advance of these weekends, regardless who is scoring or playing well. As a team, every Shels player has a serious baseline of fitness that would compete with anyone in the league. This Friday, they face their biggest test yet taking on Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.

I thought that Rovers looked physically much stronger than Derry City on Monday night. Like Derry, Shamrock Rovers have players coming back from injury at the right time of the season, with the likes of Aaron McEneff, Jack Byrne, Neil Farrugia, Trevor Clarke and Gary O’Neill all getting much-needed minutes over the last few games. Friday night's game is set up to be a cracker.

Derry City are coming to the end of a gruelling run of games which consisted of traveling to Galway, Waterford, Pat’s and Shamrock Rovers, as well as hosting Bohemians and Shelbourne at home. The Derry City players will not want to see the inside of a bus for a while! This week’s tie with Sligo, who I watched against Bohemians last week, is another fixture that will not be easy.

Sligo have historically been thorns in Derry’s side, always seeming to pick up results in these games. Although they were abysmal on Friday night, they were without a number of players, as well as having lost top goalscorer, Max Mata – who was recalled by Shrewsbury Town at the end of his loan. But as sure as snow is white, Sligo will come to the Brandywell and treat it like a cup final. I fully expect Derry with the players that are returning from injury and suspension to make light work of Sligo, and go into a run of winnable games with confidence.