Oran Kearney admits he isn’t one to sit back and admire his past achievements when it comes to successes in football. And that is super news for Coleraine fans who are coming to terms with the development that sees Kearney as the new boss of the club they love.
Kearney, who is aged 40, has departed Scottish Premiership side St Mirren to take charge again at the Bannsiders and he didn’t think too long or hard to pen a new two-year deal a little under a year after leaving for Scotland.
His return is one which has been met largely with excitement by the supporters who have been in a bit of limbo regards the incoming chief following the exit from the Showgrounds from Rodney McAree. His card was marked when Coleraine missed out on securing European football for next season and he was on his way back in May.
It is perhaps Kearney’s mindset that is such an exciting aspect of his return. He takes a philosophical approach to life and the game and this is reflected in his comments with regard to leaving St Mirren and returning to the Showgrounds. Some might argue he deserved a new deal at St Mirren Park given that he managed to steer the Buddies away from the relegation drop zone in the nick of time with a play-off win over Dundee United.
But it wasn’t to be — and you’ll not hear Kearney, an ex-Linfield schemer, complaining. Moreover, he is keen to build once again and perhaps replicate winning the Irish Cup, which he did with the club last year. He said:
“I completed the job of keeping St Mirren up when we were written off from Christmas and I had hoped I would secure another season there to build something. It hasn’t worked out that way, but that’s football. There is no point in trying to question it for too long, but instead it’s better to look forward.”
Kearney points out that he is ready, willing and able to take on the next challenge with the club and that he isn’t wasting any time considering what might have been, rather he is already focusing on the here and now. That said, fans won’t forget that he took seven years to put together a side that lifted the cup and came close to claiming the league. It’s something in which he still has a lot of pride, and that is quite understandable.
He added:
“Time doesn’t stand still. Once you’ve finished feeling sorry for yourself you need to kick on and look for the next challenge. Coming back to Coleraine is this right fit for me because I know the club.”