Derry yearn for stable leadership

With their UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign looming, Derry City FC are still looking for a manger to lead them into Europe.

Shelbourne situation
Derry were handed a place in the UEFA Champions League despite finishing second in last season's Irish league table after 2006 champions Shelbourne FC were relegated for financial irregularities and decided not to apply for a place in Europe. However, that stroke of luck has stood in stark contrast to the club's prevailing fortunes.

Fenlon decision
Derry are on the hunt for a manager for the fifth time in four years, following Pat Fenlon's decision to resign for family reasons. Caretaker Peter Hutton, who is also a player with the Brandywell club, is the fans' favourite to take over but the 34-year-old has ruled himself out of contention as he wants to prolong his playing career.

Awkward time
It is an awkward time for fans of Derry in a season which promised so much a few months ago. Derry won two cups and only lost out on the league title on goal difference last season but a poor start to the new campaign, including a run of just one win in seven matches, made some fans nervous. Fenlon's departure after eleven games made matters worse.

'Family situation'
Fenlon, who won three league titles in four seasons with Shelbourne, said he resigned for purely family reasons as his wife and children had not relocated to Derry with him, remaining 200km away in Dublin. "My family situation was always uppermost in my mind and my decision to leave Derry centred on that and that alone," he said.

Appeal for calm
A further blow came when Hutton, a Derry native who made his debut for the side back in 1991, said he was not ready to take command. "I could not see me taking it on a full-time basis at this stage," said Hutton, who appealed for calm at a club where he has played under nine managers. "The club needs someone to come in and lead the team for a few years."

'The right judgement'
Chairman Jim Roddy said Derry would take their time before appointing a new boss. "As a board we have to make the right judgement, as directors we're probably more critical of ourselves than the fans but the supporters know where we're coming from," Roddy stated.