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Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rovers' Danny Mandroiu on 'strange and bizarre' Mark Kennedy comments
Danny Mandroiu felt his reputation could have been tarnished by Mark Kennedy's barbed assessment of him at Lincoln City. But while he branded the jibe 'strange and bizarre', the Shamrock Rovers ace claims he has no lingering beef with the former Ireland was snapped up by the Imps from Rovers in 2022 and was a regular in League One, making 56 league appearances and scoring 14 goals. But in October 2023, then Lincoln boss Kennedy let rip at the Dubliner after he was sent off in a home defeat to blasted Mandroiu, claiming he would 'become just another statistic' unless he changed his approach to the game. Kennedy said: "We're here to educate him and help him, not destroy his talent. I don't know where he'll be in five years, he could be in the Championship, he could be back in Ireland. If he changes his mentality and there's structure to his game, he's got incredible talent and he can go wherever he wants to go. But if he doesn't change that, he'll just be another statistic.' Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Kennedy was sacked three days later and Lincoln's chief executive Liam Scully admitted the Mandroiu comments were a factor in his exit, not just poor results. Scully said: 'I don't think it was helpful in terms of our characterisation of Danny Mandroiu. Is that part of it? Yes. Is that the reason? No.'Lincoln rated Mandroiu and yesterday the player - who was also at Brighton - admitted he had options higher up the leagues in England, but they didn't come off. Asked if he had been worried that Kennedy's comments might cloud the opinion of other clubs, Mandroiu said: 'In a way, that could tarnish you with some teams. It obviously did. They'd obviously go to Mark Kennedy for a reference or whatever and I don't know what he's given. Lincoln know I'm a good lad so if they go to them…it was a bit strange and bizarre.' Mandroiu continued: 'He was entitled to his own opinion. It's false, it wasn't true whatever he said. It's not me. It was quite strange when it came out. It was really strange. "I didn't even know it until three days later when someone rang me and said there was something in the paper. I was in Ireland at the time actually. I read it on the Monday and I was 'Jesus'.'We were fine day to day. It was just very strange. I got sent off in a game. He started coming with 'he could be in the Premier League or nowhere' something like that. It was bizarre. He could come out with comments in the heat of the moment and then regret it the next day.'In the end, it was Shamrock Rovers again who won out for Mandroiu's signature as he returned on a short-term deal last August, before signing a longer contract this year. And the ex-Bohemians ace said: 'I had options everywhere, every time. I've never been released, I've had contracts on the table. It was just my own decision.'The teams I wanted to come in didn't come in, and I wasn't going to settle for anything less. I love Rovers, I love the gaffer, the team, we were in Europe at the time as well.'A recurrence of a hamstring injury rocked Mandroiu in the opening league game of this season, against Bohs at Aviva Stadium in February. But he is back fit and said: 'We can do whatever we put our minds to. We're playing some unbelievable stuff and long may it continue, in the league and in Europe.' ************************************** Stephen Bradley would love to see another All-Island clash in Europe. Shamrock Rovers could face Belfast giants Cliftonville in the second round of the Conference League - and Bradley hopes it and NIFL Premiership champions Linfield are already going head-to-head in the Champions League qualifiers on July 9 and 16. And the Hoops will face Cliftonville on July 24 and 31, providing the Reds beat St Joseph's of Gibraltar in the first qualifying said yesterday: 'You're hoping we get Cliftonville in terms of the travel and it becomes a lot easier, weather and everything else.'So hopefully we get Cliftonville because of the connection between both clubs and both sets of fans, that would be a great know a lot about Cliftonville, obviously, as we follow that league quite closely.'Rovers are no strangers to facing Irish League clubs in Europe, having won 4-1 away to Larne in the Europa Conference League league phase in Shamrock Rovers are not involved in the first European qualifying round this summer, they are lining up some home friendlies added: 'We've had offers from away as well, but a lot of teams wanted us to travel which is not what we want at that definitely stay local, whether it's up north or staying here, we definitely won't be travelling.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Danny Mandroiu hits back at ‘bizarre' Mark Kennedy comments after Shamrock Rovers return
DANNY MANDROIU was at a crossroads last August and chose to head back to Ireland - but not in the way his former boss Mark Kennedy envisaged. Mandroiu, 26, is back with league leaders Advertisement 2 Danny Mandroiu came back to Shamrock Rovers after two-years at Lincoln City 2 Mark Kennedy declared that the midfielder could be just 'another statistic" during his time as head coach of Lincoln City But he knows there are people out there who would take a different view of his career choices, including his former Lincoln City gaffer Kennedy. Mandroiu joined Lincoln in 2022 where he was a star man during his two years where he featured regularly under fellow Dubliner Kennedy. But a red card in October 2023 against Burton Albion led Kennedy to publicly rebuke him and warn him that his career was at a crossroads. Kennedy did praise Mandroiu's professionalism and character, but it was overshadowed but his declaration that the midfielder could be just 'another statistic.' Advertisement read more on football And he said: 'I don't know where he'll be in five years, he could be in the Championship, he could be back in Ireland.' The comments did not go down well at Lincoln, who sacked Kennedy five days later with CEO Derek Scally acknowledging the Mandroiu comments were a contributing factor. And Mandroiu insisted the whole situation was 'bizarre' for him. He said: He said: He said: 'He's entitled to his own opinion, whatever he said. It's not me. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog 'It was quite strange when it came out. It was really strange. I was in Ireland at the time actually. I read it on the Monday and I was 'Jesus'. 'He started coming with 'he could be in the Premier League or nowhere' something like that yeah. It was bizarre. Club World Cup clash SUSPENDED as fans and commentators told to leave stands and 'get inside' 'That could tarnish you with some teams which it obviously did. They'd obviously go to Mark Kennedy for a reference or whatever and I don't know what he's given. 'Lincoln know I'm a good lad so if they go to them…it was a bit strange and bizarre.' Advertisement Still, he points out that being 'back in Ireland' is far from the negative it was portrayed by Kennedy, as He continued: ' I've been in England since I was 15 so it's not something that I wanted to do. If I'm not happy, I wouldn't do it. I'll not settle for something. I had options everywhere every time. I've never been released, I've had contracts on the table. It was just my own decision. 'The teams I wanted to come in didn't come in, and I wasn't going to settle for anything less. I love Rovers, I love the gaffer, the team, we were in Europe at the time as well. Advertisement 'I signed for five months and we're in Europe and you do well and who knows what could happen. But then a new contract, I just signed that.' This season started frustratingly as suffered a hamstring injury in the Aviva Stadium opener against Bohemians before another setback on his return in April. But that led him to working with former Rovers, Dundalk, Chelsea and Leinster physio Fearghal Kerin who is an expert in hamstring injuries. INJURY WOES Mandroiu said: 'I did my hamstring three times in the last six months, it's very frustrating. Advertisement It was the same hammer the three times. 'II went to a lad called Fearghal (Kerin), he used to be with Chelsea. He's very good. I just stopped seeing him maybe three weeks ago. 'I did my prehab with him for maybe five weeks, he's really good.' And having returned to action since the summer break, Mandriou now hopes to kick on for the league leaders as they target the title and European success. Advertisement He added: 'I believe in the group, you see the squad we have, it's outrageous. So I think we can do whatever we put our minds to really. 'We're playing some unbelievable stuff. Long may it continue in the league and in Europe.'
