Premier Division of the League of Ireland, Shamrock Rovers have announced that former Burnley gaffer, Brian Laws is to become their new Director of Football until the end of the season following Stephen Kenny`s dismissal last week.
Chairman Jonathan Roche said Laws will work with assistant manager Stephen Glass and the rest of the current managerial team while Rovers continue their hunt for Kenny`s replacement.
“We have six important league games and the EA Sports Cup final coming up over the next month and a half, and Brian is coming in to help the existing back room staff to do as well as possible in those games,” Roche said.
“Bringing Brian in also gives the club some breathing space to take our time to pick the next manager. Brian`s experience in the game will help us very much in the short term, and he has recruited many players from Ireland so he is not a stranger to the league.”
Brian Laws was appointed as the new manager of Burnley in January 2010 following the high-profile departure of Owen Coyle to Bolton. He was not going to endear himself to the Burnley fanbase despite having previously played for the club as a popular player.
He left Turf Moor after being sacked in December 2010 having failed to keep the club in the Premier League and then struggling to keep the fans happy in the Championship.
Laws has also recently been critical about the sacking in his autobiography ‘Laws of the Jungle`. He described his Turf Moor sacking as the “most hurtful parting” of his career after accusing the Burnley board of not being strong enough during his troubled tenure.
He also admitted the reaction towards him by the fans was “heartbreaking” and revealed he was asked to step down by then chairman Barry Kilby during a phone conversation from America that lasted ‘a minute`. In the book, he wrote: “It still rankles as the most hurtful period of my career. It was the shortest phone conversation you can imagine.
“If I said it only lasted a minute that would not be overstating the case.
“We never spoke again. About an hour later, Burnley put an announcement that I was leaving. I was disappointed both with the decision and manner of it.
“I thought I had a better working relationship and understanding with the club than that. For all my love for the club over many years, this wasn`t a pleasant experience. The supporters upset me and I was dismayed at the way it ended from the club`s point of view.
“Brendan`s (Flood) reasoning was that if we lost again, the supporters would turn on the board. I thought they would have been stronger than that. We were on target for the play offs.
“Change doesn`t necessarily equal progress and what was so galling for me was that the board could have had been more supportive, especially as I was on target for our objective.”
Speaking about his new appointment, Laws said:
“I am delighted to be joining Shamrock Rovers and look forward to working with the chairman, board of directors, players, staff and supporters to move the club forward into a new era.
“I have significant football managerial experience having taken charge of over 800 league games in all four divisions in England. I aim to bring that experience with me to advise, guide and lead the club`s short-term strategy.
‘My strengths include getting to know clubs from top to bottom and leading change where necessary, at all times identifying and building on the club`s strengths, culture and brand. I am delighted to be accepting the challenge and can`t wait to get going.”
If you say so Brian!
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