Kevin Doherty steps down as Shelbourne boss

Shelbourne have announced that they have accepted the resignation of Kevin Doherty as first team manager after 18 months at the helm.

In an official statement released this afternoon, Shelbourne announced with “deep regret and sadness” that they had accepted Doherty’s resignation and described him as a “true Shels man” following his long association with the club.

Doherty began his senior playing career with the Reds in 2001 after being released by Liverpool as a youth.

Over the next four seasons, Doherty made over 70 League of Ireland appearances for the club, winning three Premier Division titles before departing in 2006 and going on to play for Longford Town and Bray Wanderers

In 2009 he returned to Shelbourne and made 17 league appearances before retiring in 2010 due to persistent injuries.

Doherty was then manager of Shelbourne’s under-19 squad during its inaugural season in 2011 before being made temporary first-team manager in May 2013 following the departure of Alan Mathews.

He was installed as assistant manager to Johnny McDonnell for the 2014 season before being promoted to the permanent manager position in December 2014.

In his first ever season as a League of Ireland first-team manager, he led the Reds to within four points of the Promotion play-off places following a strong end to the campaign.

He leaves the club following a 2-0 defeat to Waterford United last night with the Reds currently sitting in sixth place in the First Division, seven points behind Drogheda United who occupy the final promotion play-off spot.

Doherty's assistant John Martin will take over first-team duties on an interim basis as the club search for a permanent replacement.