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Ireland chief scout Ruaidhri Higgins set to take over as Derry City manager

Ruaidhri Higgins (right) is currently a member of Stephen Kenny's Ireland coaching team. Image credit: Sportsfile. Expand

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Ruaidhri Higgins (right) is currently a member of Stephen Kenny's Ireland coaching team. Image credit: Sportsfile.

Ruaidhri Higgins (right) is currently a member of Stephen Kenny's Ireland coaching team. Image credit: Sportsfile.

Ruaidhri Higgins (right) is currently a member of Stephen Kenny's Ireland coaching team. Image credit: Sportsfile.

Daniel McDonnell Twitter Email

IRELAND manager Stephen Kenny is facing the prospect of having to replace another member of his backroom team with chief scout and opposition analyst Ruaidhrí Higgins set to take over as Derry City manager.

Limavady-born Higgins (36) has a strong relationship with his local club – who parted company with Declan Devine – and spent nine seasons there as a player in two different spells.

The Candystripes would have to sort out a deal with the FAI for the under-contract employee if a deal is done and the process is expected to accelerate quickly.

It would be a blow to Kenny, who lost Damien Duff and Alan Kelly from his staff earlier this year and had to move to replace them with Anthony Barry and Dean Kiely.

Ironically enough, Higgins played a role in the appointment of well-regarded Chelsea coach Barry, as they played together at Coventry as trainees and did their coaching badges together with the IFA.

And it’s understood that Kenny has always been aware of Higgins’ desire to go out on his own one day if the right opportunity came up.

Yet it would also deliver mixed emotions for Higgins, who has maintained an extremely strong relationship with the Ireland boss, a man that he considers to be his mentor.

Higgins struck up a strong relationship with Kenny during the latter’s time as Derry manager and he subsequently brought the Derryman to Dundalk as a player and later as a backroom staff member.

Higgins stepped up to assistant manager with Dundalk after Kenny’s departure for his initial brief with the U-21s but left Oriel Park when his old boss assumed the senior reins from Mick McCarthy.

He was appointed chief scout and opposition analyst, which involves regular trips to the UK to watch players and also preparing reports on upcoming teams that Ireland will face.

However, the former midfielder has made no secret of his ambition to become a manager one day and the chance to manage Derry City could be too good to pass up.

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