Kenna walks out on United

Date Published: 15-Jan-2009

THE farcical situation regarding the position of manager at Galway United took a sensational twist yesterday (Wednesday) when Jeff Kenna walked out on the club to take charge at St Patrick’s Athletic, just four weeks after committing to the Terryland outfit for the 2009 season.

The United board have acted quickly and have appointed Kenna’s assistant from last season, Ian Foster, as manager on a two year contract, but officials and fans alike are seething with the manner in which Kenna has conducted his businesses since guiding United to safety from relegation in November.

Kenna ended weeks of speculation about his future when pledging to manage United for the upcoming campaign on December 18, but the former Irish international has now decided to walk out on the Terryland club and was yesterday afternoon named as the new manager of St Patrick’s Athletic.

It flies in the face of claims made by him last month in an interview with this newspaper when he said his only reason in applying for positions with clubs in England was “essentially about getting a return to England as my family are based here, and my family has to be my priority”.

The club released a statement yesterday which confirmed Kenna’s departure and the appointment of Foster in his place.

“Galway United wish to…