League of Ireland News:Stephen Kenny's return to manage Derry City having spent a year with Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic was greeted by tumultuous applause at a capacity-packed press conference in Derry yesterday.

Hundreds of Derry supporters turned out to welcome the return of the 36-year-old Dubliner who had held the managerial reins of the northern club from July 2004 to December 2006. Clearly stunned by the large gathering, Kenny signed a three-year contract with an option for a fourth. His first duty was to inform his playing staff they would be returning to pre-season training one week earlier than scheduled.

Sacked by Dunfermline 20 days earlier, Kenny also confirmed that, despite offers from other Scottish clubs, the attraction of returning to manage a group of players he had worked with in the past proved to be a major factor in his decision.

"The opportunity to manage a group of players that I have worked with over previous seasons was a major factor in my decision to return. Yes, a number of players have left the Brandywell since, but there's still a core group under contract and that was important to me.

"I always believed we had nurtured a young and exciting side in 2006 and I wanted the chance to work with that team again. It's a new challenge for me and one I'm happy to take on," added the Dubliner.

He pointed to the need to recruit staff given the recent defections of Ken Oman and Killian Brennan (Bohemians) and Gary Beckett (Finn Harps) and said he understood Derry City did not boast major investors.

Kenny pointed to the importance of the club to the community, suggesting hard work on and off the park would see the club compete favourably over the new season.

"I don't think there's any other club in Ireland which holds the same significance as Derry City has to its local community. That was another attraction for me and even without the finance of other clubs, I think this club can match that with hard work both on and off the park.

"When you look at other clubs such as Drogheda, St Pat's and Cork who have attracted major investors, or Bohemians who have sold Dalymount Park for significant finance, those clubs are willing to spend millions of euro on their panels, therefore that makes it tough for the rest.

"In the past, Derry City have not signed high-profile players, more a case of players who were considered surplus at other clubs and that's what we will be about again."

Kenny will go to work immediately in an effort to attract at least four players when the British transfer window opens on Tuesday but he insisted his return would not bring additional pressure.

"I constantly put pressure on myself but I think people in Derry are realistic. They wish to support a team that's exciting to watch, a team that is honest and a team they can identify with. I don't believe people are expecting us to win league titles immediately . . ."

He refused to set targets for the 2008 campaign. "The only target at the moment is that I've opted to bring the players back a week earlier than they expected to start pre-season. I want them to come in and enjoy our training, enjoy our football and develop a really strong spirit," he added. "I'm confident we can achieve that and while I thoroughly enjoyed my role as manager from 2004 to 2006, I'm eagerly looking forward to returning as we attempt to compete at the business end of the table," he concluded.

Former Longford, Waterford, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Alan Reynolds is favourite to become Kenny's number two with former backroom staff members Declan Devine and Colm O'Neill rejoining the club once their futures at Dunfermline have been made clear.