Cork City manager Tim Clancy: St Pats' decision to sack Jon Daly is crazy

Tim Clancy believes the League of Ireland has lost one of its best coaches in Jon Daly and described St Patrick’s Athletic's decision to part company with their FAI Cup winning manager as “crazy.”

Daly was sacked by Pats on Tuesday following their seventh loss of the Premier Division season – a 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers on Monday – which saw them slip to seventh in the table.

It was Clancy who initially brought the former Rangers striker to Inchicore, appointing him as his assistant manager when he took over the Saints back in December 2021.

Daly would go on to succeed Clancy last May and led Pats to FAI Cup glory with a 3-1 victory over Bohemians in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Aviva Stadium last November.

But after a difficult start to the 2024 campaign in which they have won just five of their 15 games, Pats decided to part company with the 41-year-old.

“I think the league has lost probably one of the best managers and coaches in the country,” insisted Clancy.

“He worked with me, and you could see the level of the coach that he was, the preparation, the detail that he goes into, and his mannerisms were unbelievable.

“He got the job after I left this time last year and he wins them a cup, which is only the fifth in the history of the club.

“For him to be gone after 15 games this season, I just think is crazy. Three Premier Division managers gone after what? A third of the season?

“Expectation levels of a lot of clubs in the country aren’t in line with reality. Shamrock Rovers are still miles ahead of everyone else and if they do hit top gear again this year, I think they can go on and win their fifth league title.

“Sligo. John Russell is doing an unbelievable job up there but the expectations are to try and