Damien Duff is set to quit as manager of Irish club Shelbourne FC just days after comparing his side to a ‘pub team’.
The former Chelsea, Newcastle United and Fulham winger has informed his players he’s leaving, according to numerous reports.
Duff’s decision follows a spectacular rant directed at his players after a defeat to Derry City.
Shelbourne are the current League of Ireland champions but are sixth this term and are unlikely to successfully defend the title.
They also have a Champions League first-round game against Northern Irish side Linfield coming up on July 9, but it seems Duff has had enough.
Of their 22 league games this season, they’ve only won seven, and a 1-0 defeat to Derry at home looks to have been the final straw.
After the match, the ex-winger tore his team to shreds and questioned their attitude and professionalism.
He said: “I’ll never give them an out of three games in a week.
“As I said to them at half time, as I said to them at the end of the game, how well did you as individuals prepare? Did you have an hour in the sunshine yesterday or today?
“I’d say I prepared better than some guys. Granted, even when you do prepare, you might come in flat, lack of energy.
“How motivated are you then to pull yourself out of that rut, give yourself a talking to? I think some of our guys just accept it and sit there for the night.
“They are hurting, as they should be and we should be.
Duff was a rapid winger back in the day but is making his way in management“The way I prepared (for Friday’s game), my wife wants to kill me at times. I’d a three, three-and-a-half hours siesta, ate really well, rested, prepped, prepped my mind, everything.
“They might prove me wrong, but I would say I prepared better than some players.
“I don’t want to be the lunatic on the sideline. I’d say the Riverside could hear me, because it did have a testimonial feel, a lack of energy, and Derry want to play that way.
“I think you could end up hearing Zach Bryan over what was going on here, and rightly so, there wasn’t a lot going on.
“But yeah, I’m a raving lunatic on the side, because I’m full of energy, full of spark, full of motivation. That wasn’t there on the pitch.”
When asked if the upcoming Champions League game was a distraction, Duff used the analogy that his side were like a pub team.
“This (the Premier Division) is your bread and butter. They are in Europe, in the Champions League, because of the league.
“I asked them before the (Derry) game, I said it’s 18 days until the Champions League, and I said if they’d have a Champions League mentality, motivation, energy here.
“I’d say pub teams have better motivation, energy, quality than us. Damning words, but I’m correct in saying them.”
Duff was appointed as the club’s manager in 2021, and he’s taken charge of 151 matches.
But he did indicate in that interview that something might have to change.
Duff didn’t hold back in what has proven to be his final interview as Shelbourne managerGettyIn his time at the club, the former Republic of Ireland international has established himself as a no-nonsense gaffer.
He has had an ongoing battle with Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds.
Last season, the two had a shouting match in Reynolds’ office that leaked to the media.
When Duff found out, he said: “See, that’s the League of Ireland and what really upsets me about the LOI is that there are so many loose lips, so many people that you can’t trust.
“I will fall out with absolutely anybody to bring this club back to where it belongs.
“The fact that you’re asking me (about Reynolds) speaks volumes about people, and the league.”
Shelbourne are yet to officially confirm Duff has left but it’s expected to be announced.
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