Pat Fenlon is the new Hibernian manager

Sgt Pepper 64

Nice to see a League of Ireland legend getting on

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15864578.stm

Pat Fenlon is the new manager of Hibernian, having signed a two-and-a-half year contract at Easter Road.
The 42-year-old arrives from Bohemians and succeeds Colin Calderwood, who was sacked earlier this month and has since joined Birmingham.
Fenlon has won five League of Ireland titles and three cup competitions during a nine-year managerial career in his homeland.
"I'm really excited by the prospect," Fenlon told the club website.
"Hibernian are a club with a rich history and proud traditions."
The Edinburgh outfit finished a disappointing 10th in the Scottish Premier League last season and currently sit ninth in the table with 14 points from 15 games.
"In order to move Hibernian forward there will need to be a lot of hard work and a clear change in mindset shown collectively by the team," added Fenlon.
"There are a lot of quality players on Hibernian's playing staff and it is now my job to make sure they function as a team.

Put simply, Pat Fenlon is a winner

Rod Petrie Hibernian chairman
"The primary goal is to provide winning football to the Hibernian supporters, who have gone through some hard times recently."
Fenlon, who was in charge of Bohemians since late 2007 and was close to becoming Dundee United manager in January 2010.
However, compensation could not be agreed between the clubs.
There was a similar obstacle when Kilmarnock expressed an interest in Fenlon that summer and he was quoted in December as being interested in becoming Motherwell manager, the position eventually going to Stuart McCall.
Apart from his spell as a youth player with Chelsea, Dublin-born Fenlon has spent his career in Ireland.


He played for St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemians, Linfield, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne, where he first turned to management in 2002 before spells with Derry City and Republic of Ireland Under-23s and then returning to the Gypsies.
Having won three championships in his five seasons at Shelbourne, Fenlon led Bohemians to the League of Ireland and FAI Cup double in his first full term and retained the title the following year.
However, Bohemians finished the most recent campaign in fifth place as Shamrock Rovers won the title for a second year running.
"Put simply, Pat Fenlon is a winner," said Easter Road chairman Rod Petrie.
"He has a record of winning championships and cups at different clubs and his teams have competed regularly in Europe.
"This pedigree is matched by the ambition Hibernian has for sporting success."
Billy Brown, who was brought in to assist Calderwood in mid-September, was in charge for last weekend's 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock and was interviewed for the manager's post.
The statement from Hibernian does not mention what the future holds for the 60-year-old former Hearts assistant manager.

Pat Fenlon

• Youth player at Chelsea between 1984 and '87
• Spent four years with St Patrick's Athletic before joining Bohemians in 1991
• Also played for Linfield, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne
• Capped by Republic of Ireland Under-21 and B team
• Began managerial career with Shelbourne in 2002
• Brief spell in charge of Derry City in 2007
• Took charge of Republic of Ireland Under-23s in 2007
• Returned to Bohemians as manager in 2008

LuckyLloyd

Tough challenge for him, and a huge loss for Bohemians (he definitely earned his money there the past couple of years).

stovelid

Bit of asset-strippping from the league to follow, no doubt.

dfx-

Could be another Stephen Kenny yet, so time will tell

I wonder if the entire league could pool a fundraiser to help Bohs afford Roderick as a replacement

Amirani

If any League of Ireland manager has what it takes to make it over there it's him I reckon. He's a born winner, hope he does well.

prettyboy81

Best of luck to Nutsy Fenlon, defo going to be tough but hope he makes a name for himself over the water!

Zebra3

Good to see him get his chance abroad.

Hibs haven't won the Scottish Cup since 1902. If he can win that for them......

Dempsey

Far more resources at his disposal than Kenny had at Dunfermline. Hibs have excellent facilities and recently rebuilt the East Stand so they do mean business. But once Fenlon finds a gem of a player or two, Rod Petrie, chairman, will look for buyers so he's going to have to deal with the fact that he wont be able to hold onto his best players for long. I think its a job that Fenlon could have great success in and I hope he does.

1967

I am delighted to see Pat Fenlon as manager of my beloved Hibees,He knows how to organise a team and wont take any crap from players something that has seeped into hibs since Tony Mowbray left,I am quite excited by this appointment and in fairness to him we can't get any worse.I do feel we have the nucleus of a good side and i hope in January he signs a couple of LOI players who will have the hunger and desire to succeed not like some of the crap we have bought over the years,can i just say green and white would look well on Killian Brennan

The_Kew_Tour

Would have rather got O Neill, but beggars cant be choosers I guess.

If he does win Scottish Cup with Hibs, he should have the stadium named after him..

dreamers75

Hope he does well over there.

Gavin "shels"

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Would have rather got O Neill, but beggars cant be choosers I guess.

If he does win Scottish Cup with Hibs, he should have the stadium named after him..

O'Neill wouldn't have gone with Shams still in Europe tbh. Plus the NI job is probably more tempting for him.

GLaDOS

Wish him all the best, would be nice to see him succeed.

kraggy

Any chance someone could give me a little education as to how Fenlon was able to play for Linfield/how it was ok for him to play for them given their history.

I'm hoping that it's because all involved were supportive of the idea because of pure football reasons but having spent the last few minutes reading about Linfield, I'm a bit confused as to why they would have bought him, and, why he would have gone there.

Genuine question (I'm not as knowledgable as most soccer forum folk, so if it's a stupid question, I apologise).

UglyBolloxFace

kraggy wrote: »

Any chance someone could give me a little education as to how Fenlon was able to play for Linfield/how it was ok for him to play for them given their history.

I'm hoping that it's because all involved were supportive of the idea because of pure football reasons but having spent the last few minutes reading about Linfield, I'm a bit confused as to why they would have bought him, and, why he would have gone there.

Genuine question (I'm not as knowledgable as most soccer forum folk, so if it's a stupid question, I apologise).

Good question. I'd love an answer too!

SantryRed

Has never succeeded without a chequebook to be fair. I do wish him the best but wouldn't be surprised to see him back in Ireland within the next 2 years.

Amirani

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Good question. I'd love an answer too!

Because he was a class footballer.

overshoot

kraggy wrote: »

Any chance someone could give me a little education as to how Fenlon was able to play for Linfield/how it was ok for him to play for them given their history.

I'm hoping that it's because all involved were supportive of the idea because of pure football reasons but having spent the last few minutes reading about Linfield, I'm a bit confused as to why they would have bought him, and, why he would have gone there.

Genuine question (I'm not as knowledgable as most soccer forum folk, so if it's a stupid question, I apologise).

They try to pass off as a group that dont care. I remember a few years ago in the setanta cup jeffreys was making a big deal of having 2 catholic players in their midfield and going how many Prods do Cork have? He got a reply of we dont know, no one ever felt a need to ask:)

bohsman

kraggy wrote: »

Any chance someone could give me a little education as to how Fenlon was able to play for Linfield/how it was ok for him to play for them given their history.

I'm hoping that it's because all involved were supportive of the idea because of pure football reasons but having spent the last few minutes reading about Linfield, I'm a bit confused as to why they would have bought him, and, why he would have gone there.

Genuine question (I'm not as knowledgable as most soccer forum folk, so if it's a stupid question, I apologise).

Money and skills like these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW16BnpbAkc

Omackeral

Delighted for Nutsy Fenlon. Realistically achieved everything he could here at home bar reaching the group stages of European competition. I feel he was unlucky not to get the move a couple of years ago to the SPL due to terms not being met. Unfortunately for Bohs, finances are needed and this is a neccessary step.

Hope Owen Heary takes charge of Bohs.

Raskolnikov

Going to be really tough for Fenlon, from what I've seen of Hibs, they're muck.

bohsman

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Going to be really tough for Fenlon, from what I've seen of Hibs, they're muck.

Fortunately all the teams he will face are also muck.

TheBuilder

bohsman wrote: »

Fortunately all the teams he will face are also muck.

He'll face more higher quality teams than he did over here.

stovelid

kraggy wrote: »

why he would have gone there.

Why not? Biggest club in the North.

If a Protestant refused outright to play for a supposedly Catholic club, people would probably call it sectarian.

stovelid

TheBuilder wrote: »

He'll face more higher quality teams than he did over here.

About three of them, perhaps.

TheBuilder

stovelid wrote: »

About three of them, perhaps.

No denying that, still disproves his post. Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Dundee United would currently be stronger than teams here, bar Shamrock Rovers, in my opinion of course.

podge018

SantryRed wrote: »

Has never succeeded without a chequebook to be fair. I do wish him the best but wouldn't be surprised to see him back in Ireland within the next 2 years.

didn't have a cheque book his year with Bohs and succeeded in getting them an amazing 5th place and a cup semi-final.

gustavo

podge018 wrote: »

didn't have a cheque book his year with Bohs and succeeded in getting them an amazing 5th place and a cup semi-final.

In fairness he did have Murphy , Burns , Rossiter , Cronin , O'Brien Brennan , Flood Fagan etc , 5th is about where they should have came , you could only say possibly Dundalk should have finished above them

PARKHEAD67

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Going to be really tough for Fenlon, from what I've seen of Hibs, they're muck.

Theyve been bad this season. But they are a fairly big club. In fairness, Edinburgh is football mad-Hibs or hearts. Its a huge football city. Hibs are a big team. Lots of support.A BIG step up from Bohs and the like.Ill put it to you this way-if Hibs were in any English league theyd have a 20,000 fan base.No bother.Fenlon is taking a MAJOR step up.Remember Trainspotting? All the lads were Hibees.:D

Fr Tod Umptious

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Good question. I'd love an answer too!

I though it was common enough for Loi players to play for the likes of Linfield in the early 90s.

If I recall a few Dub'in GAA players spent their winters playing on the Irish League

PARKHEAD67

stovelid wrote: »

About three of them, perhaps.

Bullsh*t

bohsman

TheBuilder wrote: »

He'll face more higher quality teams than he did over here.

I wasn't really having a go. The gap between the Glasgow clubs and the rest is smaller than ever. From what I've been hearing Hibs are financially sound whereas Rangers are not, looks like the perfect move and timing for Fenlon.

citytillidie

Poor Hibs, have they been relegated before?

PARKHEAD67

citytillidie wrote: »

Poor Hibs, have they been relegated before?

He might have a trick up his sleeve.:D.You are anti-Pat?

Lucan Bohs

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Theyve been bad this season. But they are a fairly big club. In fairness, Edinburgh is football mad-Hibs or hearts. Its a huge football city. Hibs are a big team. Lots of support.A BIG step up from Bohs and the like.Ill put it to you this way-if Hibs were in any English league theyd have a 20,000 fan base.No bother.Fenlon is taking a MAJOR step up.Remember Trainspotting? All the lads were Hibees.:D

Major step up? It's a step up alright but it's the SPL not the Premiership or La Liga.

Delighted for him, I reckon that if he didn't get this chance he may never have gotten another.

bohsman

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

He might have a trick up his sleeve.:D.You are anti-Pat?

Bitter Nordie is bitter.

PARKHEAD67

bohsman wrote: »

Bitter Nordie is bitter.

County Clare isnt Nordie;)

PARKHEAD67

Lucan Bohs wrote: »

Major step up? It's a step up alright but it's the SPL not the Premiership or La Liga.

Delighted for him, I reckon that if he didn't get this chance he may never have gotten another.

Dont start me. Just dont.Talkin about overrated.;)

bohsman

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

County Clare isnt Nordie;)

The Derry fan..

PARKHEAD67

bohsman wrote: »

The Derry fan..

Derry fans arent "nordie".You know this.;)

dreamers75

kraggy wrote: »

Any chance someone could give me a little education as to how Fenlon was able to play for Linfield/how it was ok for him to play for them given their history.

I'm hoping that it's because all involved were supportive of the idea because of pure football reasons but having spent the last few minutes reading about Linfield, I'm a bit confused as to why they would have bought him, and, why he would have gone there.

Genuine question (I'm not as knowledgable as most soccer forum folk, so if it's a stupid question, I apologise).

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Good question. I'd love an answer too!

he was fairly decent, no idea how him or buckley never made it in England (buckley did well further afield) but Fenlon was a decent player.

His nickname was coined from something he did a lot.

Dotrel

bohsman wrote: »

Money and skills like these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW16BnpbAkc

Jody Schumacher

PARKHEAD67

Dotrel wrote: »

Jody Schumacher

Exactltly.Schumacher and himself should be sent to a dungeon;)How that was a yellow card?Good jesus.

Zebra3

citytillidie wrote: »

Poor Hibs, have they been relegated before?

Well, at least at Hibs he won't have to deal with a situation whereby players have two sets of contracts.

Can cause problems between management and board.

PARKHEAD67

Zebra3 wrote: »

Well, at least at Hibs he won't have to deal with a situation whereby players have two sets of contracts.

Can cause problems between management and board.

He'll be a success at Hibs.Mark my words.

Zebra3

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

He'll be a success at Hibs.Mark my words.

I hope so too.

He some how dragged us over the line in 2006 to our 13th title despite all our off the pitch problems.

upandcumming

podge018 wrote: »

didn't have a cheque book his year with Bohs and succeeded in getting them an amazing 5th place and a cup semi-final.

Amazing? Calm down there boy.

Mushy

Leading 1-0 anyway.

stovelid

Nutsy is a good manager but the spoofs about him overachieving last season are just that. Bohs achieved more or less what they should have with the squad they paid for.

Mushy

1-1

Strongbow10

3-1 down now

Fenlon is not in charge today though