Murphy to see out the remainder of season at Harps helm with McHugh to assist

Darren Murphy will remain in temporary charge of Finn Harps for their remaining four games of the First Division season - the club has confirmed. 

Dave Rogers stepped down from his role as first-team boss on Saturday, in the wake of a heavy 5-1 defeat away to Cobh Ramblers. The Merseysider departs with the team sitting second from bottom with just 30 points from 32 outings. 

Assistant Murphy picked up the reins for Monday’s visit to newly crowned champions Galway United. 

And that narrow 1-0 loss at Eamonn Deacy, Harps have two remaining home games and two final away outings. They host Kerry on Friday night before going away to Trearty United the following week. 

Head of Academy Kevin McHugh and Former Harps U19 Manager Tommy Canning, most recently of Dergview FC, have joined also the backroom team for the remainder of the campaign.

Their final outing in Ballybofey will be against Athlone Town on Saturday, October 14. And, after that, the curtain comes down on the season away to Bray Wanderers on Friday, October 20. 

When contacted on Wednesday afternoon, a short statement from the club read: “Darren Murphy will continue as interim manager of Finn Harps for the remaining games in the 2023 season, starting with Kerry FC at home on Friday night. 

“The board of the club will conduct a review in the coming weeks to put in place a process to appoint a management team for the 2024 season and beyond”. 

Speaking to the Democrat this week, former player Mark Forker says the club will have to be much more pragmatic in their approach to their next appointment. 

“I’d love to see a Harps man, someone like Declan Boyle would be a brilliant appointment if he was interested. Joe Boyle as well. Even someone like John Quigg at Derry, I’ve always been a huge fan. 

“We don’t have a massive budget and the recruitment from overseas hasn’t really worked. So if we are to really look at developing players and our academy, then John has a brilliant track record of working with young players.

“It would need to be sorted sooner rather than later.  And the conversations will hopefully have started already. 

“Realistically, at the minute, we are going to have to find someone with a deep love for the club, someone really hurting to see Harps struggling like they are. 

“It will probably need to be a local appointment in that sense. It looks bleak now but it can change really quickly with the right man at the helm”.