Dundalk FC first-team manager Ciarán Kilduff has confirmed his staff for the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.
Kilduff, who earlier this month returned to Oriel Park where he has legendary status, has brought in his former Athlone Town Women’s assistant manager Ken Kiernan to once again be his number two.
A former League of Ireland Academy coach at Shelbourne, Kiernan worked with Kilduff when the pair led Athlone to FAI Cup glory last November. He was then given the opportunity to manage Bohemians Women, where he spent the past year.
Kiernan is a new name at Oriel, but the rest of Kilduff’s staff are familiar faces to Dundalk supporters.
Gerry Spain, who was a key member of Stephen Kenny’s backroom team between 2013 and 2016, returns to the club as first-team coach and analyst, while Liam Burns continues as first-team coach and Peter Cherrie as goalkeeping coach.
Kilduff on his staff…
“I couldn’t be happier. I got all my first choices. When I took the job, they were the people that I wanted to bring in and keep. Honestly, it couldn’t have gone any better.
“The targets of Ken and Gerry, who I’m bringing in alongside me, were key to me being able to do this job the way I want to do it. To keep Burnsy and Peter Cherrie in the building and the dressing-room with me was something I targeted early.
“They’re all bringing different values and different experiences. I think we’ve got a brilliant blend for the dressing-room now. I think it sends a statement to the players that are sticking with us and the players that are coming in, about the level of coaching, the level of professionalism and the honesty that they’ll get from the coaching staff.”
On Ken Kiernan’s arrival…
“Ken has a great CV. He worked underage with Shelbourne Boys, we worked together in Athlone and had success. He’s a brilliant coach, we work well together. We have an element of trust.
“He’s someone that I’ve always spoken to on a daily basis, in terms of football and helping each other out. It is great having someone of his quality, his honesty, his work endeavour, his discipline, his commitment.
“I think, a lot like me, he is relishing the opportunity. As coaches, we’re looking forward to getting on the training pitch now. We speak hourly about planning sessions. That’s why we work so well together – Ken is the type of character who’s always all in, a lot like myself and a lot like the lads we’re trying to bring to the club and that are here.
“Speaking with Daryl Horgan yesterday, he’s already in the gym working towards next season. Ken, myself and all the staff are already doing our jobs and working away with a goal for next season. I’m over the moon to get Ken.”
On convincing him to leave Bohemians…
“He had done a great job there and he was building something special. Ken himself knows, though, this is also a huge opportunity in terms of his own progression as a coach, an opportunity to work alongside me, the other staff and the quality players we’re going to have in the dressing-room.
“I can’t say it was an easy decision for him to walk away from what he’s done, but I also know how determined he is and how much he valued this opportunity that we’re going to have now in Dundalk, to hopefully be the men to try to restore Dundalk to its place in Irish football.
“He’s very much like that. He’s an honest man, he’s an honest coach, and he’s very proud of the work he did with Bohemians. Yes, it took some convincing, because like us all, everyone needs convincing before they do any job, but I knew from early days that this was something that really interested him.
“I knew the idea of us working together again, with the opportunity that Dundalk presents right now, was going to be a huge opportunity that he couldn’t refuse.”
On Gerry Spain’s return…
“Gerry is massive for us. He is someone that I worked under when I was at Dundalk during the Stephen Kenny era. Gerry has a completely different wealth of knowledge. He knows the northern leagues well, he knows the local area well, and he cares about the club deeply.
“We’ve constantly kept in contact over the years and as soon as I got a role like this, he was always going to be one of the first people that I was going to call. What a coup for me to have Gerry coming in and giving me his experience, his dedication and commitment.
“It’s getting people around the club that care about the club. That’s the biggest thing. We all have a drive now in the building of people who are trying to do an honest day’s work for the club, and that’s what the club needs right now.
“Gerry has a very different style to me in terms of how he does things, and that’s what I love about him. I think he’s a brilliant addition for me to have, he’s someone I can bounce off and someone who will guide me, and give me a different opinion on things. That’s what I need around the place.”
On Liam Burns and Peter Cherrie staying…
“They’re huge. Their value cannot be understated. When I walked into the building on the day I was being announced, the first person I spoke to was Burnsy and I asked him to come and meet me straight away.
“Peter is away but we’ve spoken numerous times on the phone about his role within this. Burnsy, in particular, is a heartbeat of the club. He’s someone who cares so much about the club and you need those people around right now.
“Burnsy was key for me in this. He’s a key figure in the club’s history and will be going forward as long as I’m here, as long as he wants to be. He’s an excellent coach, he has the respect already of the lads, the work he does, the knowledge he has, even of the Academy structure and players coming through, I’m delighted that our relationship is good.
“I don’t want this to be understated – I never spoke to anyone else other than this staff that is coming in. These were always my first options. I couldn’t be happier. It genuinely couldn’t have gone better.”
2025 First-Team Management
Manager: Ciarán Kilduff
Assistant Manager: Ken Kiernan
First-Team Coach: Liam Burns
First-Team Coach & Analyst: Gerry Spain
Goalkeeping Coach: Peter Cherrie
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