STEPHEN KENNY HAS labelled Ian Harte “an empty vessel” after the former Republic of Ireland international re-opened old wounds about Kenny’s time as international boss.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Premier Division game with Sligo Rovers, the St Patrick’s Athletic manager reacted to Harte’s statement that he had “found his level where he is… a good League of Ireland manager”, and recalled earlier criticism at the beginning of his Ireland tenure.
Harte, who is listed as a scout for the Sports Management International football agency on the company’s website, used his blog for a betting company to criticise Irish clubs for “killing lads’ chances” of moving to England.
He referenced Justin Ferizaj, who Harte said was priced out of a move to Premier League clubs and instead left Shamrock Rovers in 2023 for Frosinone who were in Serie A at the time.
“Well, he is entitled to his viewpoint on that front. Obviously I wasn’t party to negotiations, that was dealt with by the club. For some reason, he wants to have a personal go at me, which… I’ve never met Ian Harte, I’ve never had a conversation with him, I’ve never come across him in any shape or form. I have met his uncle, Gary Kelly, a good few times and he is an absolute gentleman, a really impressive man,” Kenny said.
“It was interesting, my very first game as [Ireland] manager was against Bulgaria. Ian Harte was tweeting… the headlines after the game were that Ian Harte was tweeting this and that. I was like, I know there are going to be a few people waiting in the long grass, but he’s a bit early, the game isn’t even finished and he’s [tweeting].
“People were saying in the FAI, well, he’s Robbie Keane’s friend, he’s been his teammate and he’s upset, he wants to show loyalty, he wants to get after you. So I said, okay, I’m not going to respond to it at that time.
“Now I’m thinking, I’m a year and a half out of the [Ireland] job and he wants to have a go… Stephen’s found his level. Why would he want to say that? What would be his motivation for wanting to bring me into the conversation? I find that strange.
“I’m happy to be involved with the League of Ireland, I’m very proud of that, I’m very proud that I’ve managed the international team, I am very proud to work every single day as a coach, wherever that is. I think there is only one Irish coach working in the 92 clubs in England as head coach. Noel Hunt has just been appointed from within the ranks at Reading. There may certainly be another one, I’m not sure.
“For him to use a betting [company], to try to get himself a profile, to try and attack me in some way. I think he is an empty vessel,” Kenny said.
Kenny bang on to call him out.
@An tEoghanach: for what? Speaking the truth. Stephen Kenny was miles out of his depth and has found his level. That’s it. For all Kenny’s bluster he didn’t go to LOI players when he was in the job.
Once again playing victim that comments were personal attacks and motivated by something else. No they weren’t he couldn’t win a game and played horrid stuff
@Shane: give over
@Kevin Bury: wrong chat, whoops
Poor stuff from harte.
Well said Stephen
When all is said and done Ian Harte isn’t wrong is he
@Mick O’K: You’ve no idea about league of Ireland football or what you’re spouting about. Kenny inherited probably the worst generation of Irish players and you think it made him a bad manager?
He did a terrific job with Pats last season working with his own squad of players.
@Seanie The Mad Cork Culchie!: how did he do in Scotland? Like Harte said and now you’ve ironically just said, kenny has found his level
@Mick O’K: Your ig.norance of Scottish football is as bad as your knowledge of Irish. He had no money to buy players at Dunfermline who were a glorified 1st Div team att and all their good ones were sold but he still got them to a Scottish Cup Final against Celtic.
The fact that Harte has been an agent is significant. He has an agenda, that tries to get young players to England for as cheap as possible, which isn’t always in the players best interest.
It’s a Dundalk – Drogheda thing. Cromwell should have finished the job.
@Stuart Z Quinn: good man…now you sound as bad as s Ian Harte
Hartey will do for me
Noel Hunt the only Irish head coach of 92 clubs. What does that make Kieran McKenna. Being a bit partitionist are we there Stephen..
Harte’s bang on the money, Kenny had one previous step up from LOI to Dunfermline, and it was an unmitigated disaster. Much like his Ireland tenure….
@Sea Point: As I said to the other ßuffoon in the comments, your ig.norance of Scottish football is as bad as your knowledge of Irish football. Kenny got a pish poor Dunfermline side to the Scottish Cup Final in his first season.
Yes, we all know Kenny was out of his depth with the Ireland job and it was a disaster. However, he knows the LOI exceptionally well and is bang on the money here. Ian Harte is an agent and is trying to screw Irish clubs on the cheap for their young talent. He doesn’t give a bollox about the game here or the best route for these players. He is benefiting English clubs and his pocket nothing else. Fine player but a transparent tool.