Former Leeds United and Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has stood down from his position as head coach of Goole AFC in the ninth tier of English football.
The former shot-stopper took over the Northern Counties East League Premier Division side back in October as the joint manager alongside Nathan Helliwell but has lasted merely a month in the job.
The 45-year-old announced his decision on Twitter/X on Sunday night, citing family and work commitments as the reason behind his sudden departure:
“Unfortunately I’ve not been able to make the last couple of games so I’m stepping down as @GooleAFC manager due to family/work commitments, gutted it’s not worked out but it’s a very demanding job and I just can’t fully commit, wishing Goole, player & @NathanHelliwel4 all the best.”
Unfortunately I’ve not been able to make the last couple of games so I’m stepping down as @GooleAFC manager due to family/work commitments, gutted it’s not worked out but it’s a very demanding job and I just can’t fully commit, wishing goole,player & @NathanHelliwel4 all the best
— Paddy Kenny (@paddykenny17) November 26, 2023
Kenny played for three seasons in the Premier League with Sheffield United under Neil Warnock and Queens Park Rangers under Warnock again as well as ex-Bradford City boss Mark Hughes, notably conceding a stoppage time goal to Manchester City which won the Blues their first-ever title in dramatic fashion on the last day.
Despite being appointed as a player-goalkeeper coach at Northampton Town a few seasons ago when Wales boss Rob Page was in charge, Goole AFC was Kenny’s first experience as a manager of a team in the men’s game, but he has now left the club.
In confirmation of the decision on Monday morning, the club announced that they would be ‘assessing options and making a further statement by the end of the week’:
“Following news breaking yesterday that Paddy Kenny was stepping down from his position as joint manager, we are currently assessing our options and will be making a further statement, hopefully by the end of the week.”
Writer’s View
Kenny owns a transport company called PK Transport Movements and so may have found it incredibly difficult to juggle being a manager and an entrepreneur, given how time-consuming coaching truly is.
By the sounds of it, Nathan Helliwell will become the sole head coach of Goole, although the club’s statement this morning sounds as though the board have different plans.
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