"The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been." - Henry Kissinger

Where next for Dundalk FC?

It used to be said that a week was a long time in the world of politics.

But in this age of the nano-second news cycle, everything changes and then changes again before you have even realised anything was changing in the very first place.

The full 'behind the scenes' story of Stephen Kenny's departure from Dundalk FC may take a while to be told, but the public one twisted and turned and then doubled back on itself before shattering into questionable pieces on Saturday evening.

Lilywhite fans were left bereft and confused; with a hint of scorned anger thrown in for good measure.

It also left them with six years of incredible success to reflect on over gloomy Saturday night/Sunday morning pints.

It wasn't just that Stephen Kenny was an outstanding success at the club - which he was (four league titles, two FAI Cups, two league cups and that unforgettable European run) - it's that he brought us all to places we never knew existed for the likes of us.

Truly magical moments earned and savoured through the force of a personality which created a cult of devotion both on and off the pitch. A personality which seemingly did not need to veer towards the hairdryer to get results.

The Joe Schmidt philosophy of 'speak softly, but carry a big stick' might seem more on the money here.

From the terraces to the boardroom, Kenny was king. His reign absolute, his legacy assured.

The obedience of the players was total. They bought into him wholely and without question. You got the distinct feeling that they were Kenny's players first and then Dundalk's.

Dundalk FC became his mission and Stephen Kenny became the embodiment of the club. No one wanted this to end, and certainly not like this.

But no one man is bigger than a club either. Kenny knows that as much as anyone in the harshly delicate world of professional football.



There is an apt slogan which has become prominent on social media around town in recent times:

'Dundalk will never die, but you will'

It's a witty reinterpretation of an album title by Scottish post punk band Mogwai. A band who are ardent and passionate Celtic fans.

It is also an on-the-nose slogan for where Dundalk FC finds itself right now and it could be a call to arms for those doubting future success now that Kenny has gone.

Whatever the questions behind Kenny's decision to leave and the way it all unfolded so messily, calm heads are what is needed now.

Succession planning is no doubt underway already up at Oriel Park. The American owners know that choosing the next Dundalk FC manager will undoubtedly be the biggest decision they will ever make during their time at the Carrick Road club.

Everyone knows the story of what happened after Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford - the fallout from which is still being felt at Manchester United half a decade on.

Picking the right successor is a tricky and precarious business at the best of times. The history of which is littered with valiant misfires and unforgiveable mistakes. The truly successful ones are rare as hens teeth.

Even if the man who follows Kenny into the dugout at Oriel Park is a success, he will struggle with one unavoidable truth - he is not Stephen Kenny.

Joe Fagan won the treble in his first season in charge of Liverpool FC in the 1980s, claiming the league title and European Cup on top of a league cup crown - an outstanding acheivement which has never been bettered.

There is no statue, stand or shrine to Joe Fagan at Anfield though.

But there are for the two men he immediately succeeded - Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. They were the men who built the legend of Liverpool FC between them.

Fagan lasted just two years in the Liverpool hotseat. His second season included an appearance at another European cup final, a semi final apearance in the FA Cup and a second place finish in the league.

Not a bad season for most clubs, but it wasn't enough. Fagan stepped down after the loss to Juventus in that final.

The 'unassuming' Joe Fagan was an undoubted success, but few remember him in the same way they do Shankly and Paisley.

To have any hope of being branded a similar 'success', the next Dundalk FC manager will need to pick up were Kenny left off - winning titles and surging deep into European competition - but in the end, even that may not prove to be enough.