Rovers play down Croly's exit

SOCCER: AIRTRICITY LEAGUE:SHAMROCK ROVERS chairman Jonathan Roche last night sought to play down the significance of Trevor Croly leaving the club on Tuesday evening and insisted the team remained in a strong position to enjoy considerable success under Michael O'Neill over the second half of the season.

The loss of a coach, though, who is widely regarded as one of the most talented in the league, comes as O’Neill seeks to prepare his players for important games at home and in Europe and it will add to the pressure on the northerner after a spell in which Rovers have lost the lead in the title race as a result of winning just one of their last four matches.

Neither the manager nor his former coach would comment on the situation last night but Croly’s comments in the statement issued by the club tend to lend weight to the widespread rumours that the pair’s relationship had effectively broken down in recent times, with some suggesting O’Neill’s team selection and pre-match talk on Friday in Sligo – where both Ronan Finn and Gary Twigg were left out of the starting line-up – had antagonised the former Rovers player.

“It is with great regret that I have resigned from my position at Shamrock Rovers FC,” said Croly in last night’s statement. “I would like to thank the board and fans for all the help and support I have received during my time at the club.

“I’m grateful to have worked at Shamrock Rovers, coaching fantastic players and receiving fantastic support. Over the past few months my football relationship with the manager has changed somewhat, which has ultimately led to this decision. I’d like to wish Michael, the players, and everyone at the club the best of luck for the future.”

O’Neill simply said that he had enjoyed working with Croly over the last couple of years and thanked him for his efforts. He was said last night to have started considering replacements but will do well to find one who is as well regarded by players.

The Dubliner played a key part in helping the former Northern Ireland international settle into the job following his appointment in early 2009 and has since been seen as a highly progressive influence on the training ground.

“Trevor’s a loss,” acknowledged Roche last night, “but we have good players and a good manager so we’ll get on with it. I’m sure Michael’s working on it because he needs a coach but there’s not a mad rush.

“We’re not playing in Europe for another couple of weeks and Michael’s a good coach himself,” added Roche.

The departure may further impact on the manager’s already difficult relationship with a section of the club’s supporters – many of whom are also in effect shareholders – who have persistently criticised the team’s style of play under O’Neill despite the considerable success Rovers have enjoyed over the last 12 months.

Roche, though, is a just a little bemused by the criticism. “We’re league champions, all-Ireland champions, two points off the top of the table, in the Champions League and FAI Cup . . . so we’re not in a bad position.”

O’Neill must now strive to steady the ship and ensure the outlook is at least as rosy after key games against St Patrick’s Athletic, Derry City and Flora Tallinn.