This weeks Eircom League

19/05/2008 [18:24]
BRIAN KERR RESIGNS AS DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL
The Board of St Patrick’s Athletic FC wants to acknowledge the contribution of Brian Kerr who has today (Monday, May 19th) decided to stand down from his position as Director of Football at the club. Mr Kerr will remain as an adviser to St Patrick’s Athletic until the end of this season. Commenting, Chairman, Garrett Kelleher said: “Brian agreed to take this position to help assist me and the board with the transition involved in the new ownership of one of the longest established clubs in League of Ireland football. The initial phase on the professional football side is largely done. The fact that we have a strong 1st team squad with a highly professional back up team and have better football structures than at any time in recent years means Brian has fulfilled that important task. We are grateful to have had someone of Brian’s experience available to us and I want to thank him for his contribution.”

Brian Kerr said he wished the club every success. “My affinity with and affection for this club is well known. St Patrick’s will always be special to me and I believe that Johnny McDonnell has now got a squad that can achieve great success over the coming seasons. I have greatly enjoyed being involved and working with Johnny to get us to the point where we can look ahead with great confidence. Last year’s 2nd place finish in the league was pleasing. I believe the club will go one better this season. I want to thank Garrett Kelleher and the board of the club, the staff, the players and the fans for their support of me over the past 15 months and I wish them continued success.”

Mr Kelleher said his board has exciting plans for taking the club forward. “Brian’s contribution has been great. I knew that it was always possible that he would want to leave and to that end we have been looking at how best to oversee the next phase in the development of the football side of the club and will make an announcement on this shortly.”

Mr Kelleher said the club has made great progress in its first eighteen months under his ownership. “There remain important additional steps that we have to consider. Achieving the right balance between the necessary success at 1st Team level and the longer term development needs of the football club is difficult. Professional football remains very underdeveloped in this market and those of us who are committed to building a brighter future within the game need to be creative and determined in order to do so. We also need the right conditions within which to effect change.”

applehunter wrote: »

Johnny held out!

I don't want him at Cork.