BOHEMIANS CONFIRMED yesterday that Hibernian had sought and been granted permission to speak to Pat Fenlon about the managerial vacancy at the Scottish Premier League club. The 42-year-old Dubliner has been linked with the post since Colin Calderwood was sacked earlier this month after just 13 months in the job, the team now just two points off the bottom of the table.
Fenlon has a year left on his contract with Bohemians, where he has been manager since December 2007, leading the club to two league titles and, in 2008, the FAI Cup, having had spells before that with Shelbourne and Derry City. He also managed the Republic of Ireland under-23 side in 2007-08.
Fenlon appeared to be on the verge of moving to Scottish football last year when Dundee United offered him the manager’s job, but the club failed to reach agreement with Bohemians, who are heavily in debt, on a compensation deal.
Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill was among those also linked with the Hibernian post, although he denied any contact with the club.
Billy Brown, who had been Calderwood’s assistant at Easter Road, is currently the club’s caretaker manager and had been interviewed for the permanent post, but Fenlon now seems set to fill the position – if he can agree terms with the club.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland’s successful Euro 2012 qualifying campaign has seen them rise four places in the new Fifa world rankings, the team now just one spot outside the top 20, their highest placing since August 2005. Since Giovanni Trapattoni took over the job in May 2008, Ireland have risen 20 places in the list.
The top four in the rankings remain unchanged, World and European champions Spain holding on to top spot ahead of the Netherlands, Germany and Uruguay, with England moving up two places to five just ahead of Brazil. Northern Ireland have dropped five places to 89.
Shelbourne defender Stephen Paisley has been named the Airtricity/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Player of the Month for November. Paisley was the man of the match in Shelbourne’s FAI Cup final defeat on penalties to Sligo Rovers.
