Many managers will tell you that a measure of whether or not they have been successful is if the team is in a better state when they left compared to when they took over. If such a methodology was applied to Seán Connor then the only conclusion you could draw is that he has done impressively well at his clubs.
Consider this: Sligo Rovers had finished in the First Division before he took over. In his first season in charge, he led them to the First Division title. The following year they finished a comfortable fifth in the top flight and reached the last four of the FAI Cup, although a 5-0 replay defeat to Derry City in the semi-finals might have soured that achievement somewhat.
In 2006, Bohemians finished ninth with 29 points from 30 games (the results against Dublin City having been expunged). The following season, with Connor at the helm, Bohs got double the number of points from just three more games and finished third.
It remains to be seen if Connor’s time at Dundalk is coming to a close but, if it is, there will have been a similar tale of improvement at Oriel Park. John Gill was unfathomably sacked after leading the club to promotion. The bottom line for his successor was to avoid relegation. They have done with a lot to spare. With two games to go, the lie in fifth and, as they are nine points behind Derry City in fourth and four points clear of Sligo in sixth, that is where they are likely to finish. While a record of 17 red cards in 38 games this season is atrocious, Connor has achieved his targets.
With such a CV, perhaps it is no wonder that other clubs are taking notice and it appears as though Connor is very much in the frame to take charge at Greenock Morton. Whether moving from a club in fifth in the League of Ireland to one third from bottom in the Scottish First Division is a step up is debatable but, perhaps given the uncertainty in Irish football, it is understandable that someone should consider such a switch.
What is remarkable is that as Connor eyes up the exit door at Oriel Park, the reaction of Dundalk fans to his possible departure is very similar to that of the supporters of Sligo and Bohs when he left their clubs, in very different circumstances it must be said. A lot of them won’t be sorry to see him go. When it comes to the Belfast man, you either love him or hate him. There is no in between. Many lean towards the latter for reasons that are too numerous to mention here.
Perhaps because safety has been assured, Dundalk are in a bit of a trough at present, having not won any of their last five games. I expect that run to continue against Cork City on Friday. I’m inclined to think there could be five home wins in the Premier Division so I’m going to put €20 on an accumulator for a return of €226.80. I’m also going for a €20 accumulator for Derry City, Bohs, Limerick and Monaghan for a return of €140. Finally, I’m going to put €5 each way on Jason McGuinness to be first scorer in Bohs game v Sligo.
