Pat Fenlon completed his return to Bohemians today and insisted there are strong foundations in place for future success.
Mirror Sport revealed last month that the former Gypsies manager was being lined up as Director of Football and the club have confirmed the appointment.
Fenlon won back-to-back league titles with Bohs along with an FAI Cup, EA Sports Cup and Setanta Cup when he was manager between 2008 and 2011.
He also won an FAI Cup as a Bohs player during his spell at Dalymount Park between 1991 and 1994.
Until now, the former Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Hibernians manager was General Manager of Irish League giants Linfield, a post he held since 2018.
But he is back at Dalymount Park where Bohs are moving to a full-time operation - and morning training sessions - ahead of the new League of Ireland season.
Bohs had a disappointing 2022 campaign and Decan Devine replaced long-serving boss Keith Long at the head of first-team affairs late in the season.
The Dubliners are desperate to get back on track this year and Fenlon, 53, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be returning. I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“I have some really special memories from my previous spells at the club and I want to help make new ones.
“It’s a really exciting time to be getting back involved with Bohs.
“There has been a lot of good work done rebuilding the club over the last decade and you can see how much the club has grown in several areas in recent years.
“I feel the foundations are strong, there is a great atmosphere and affiliation around the club.
“I believe that we have an opportunity to build on all of that, be stronger again, and bring further success to the club.
“It will be my job to oversee the football operations of the club alongside the board of directors to help get Bohs where we all want to be.”
Fenlon, who was previously Director of Football at Waterford FC, will work with new Bohs boss Devine and assistant Gary Cronin, who was appointed before Christmas.
He added: “I’m looking forward to working closely with the board, Declan Devine and the men’s team, Seán Byrne and all involved with the women’s set-up, with Craig Sexton and the academy and youth sections.
“Everyone is pulling together to try to push the club on as much as we can and as sustainably as we can, and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”
Bohs wanted a ‘football person to oversee football operations’ at the club and felt Fenlon was the ideal candidate.
Gypsies president Matt Devaney said: “The Director of Football role is something the board has given careful consideration to in recent months.
“With the move to full-time training for the men’s first team, the growth of the academy and continued investment in our women’s team, it makes sense to have a football person overseeing those operations.
“In Pat, we believe we have the ideal candidate with a wealth of experience for the role and we’re delighted he has agreed to come on board.
“We look forward to working closely with Pat as we all try to push the club on.”
