Declan Devine says his old boss Stephen Kenny won’t go down without a fight in his bid to turn around Ireland’s Euro 2024 fortunes.
The Bohemians manager worked alongside Kenny during two spells at Derry City and one at Dunfermline.
He has backed the Boys in Green chief to turn things around after a disappointing June window, which began with a defeat to Greece in Athens.
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“I think it’s been a difficult week for him but knowing Stephen, he’s a very shrewd man,” said Devine, ahead of Bohs’ derby against Shamrock Rovers this evening.
“He’s a man that is very self focused on what he has to achieve.
“He’ll know that results have to pick up. I fully back him to pick results up.
“I know it’s a very difficult period coming in September but I see a lot of harmony within the group, a lot of togetherness within the players and staff, which I didn’t see early on in his reign.
“I felt it was still finding its way and growing a bit of legs.
“There’s no doubt, if he’s going to go down, he’ll go down fighting.”
Meanwhile, Devine is certain that midfielder James McManus will be at the club until the end of the season at least.
Bohs have already rejected two offers for the highly-rated teenager from an unnamed cross-channel side - as they did not come close to their valuation of the player.
Asked about the youngster’s immediate future, Devine said: “James will be here at least until the end of the season.
“The kid himself has stated that to me, he wants to stay at Bohs for this year and see, he hasn't made his mind up yet on what he's doing with his education (he has just finished his Leaving Cert).
“But he wants to be around the squad until the end of the season.”
