Lynch exit 'pretty much a snap decision' - O'Doherty

Derry City chairman Philip O'Doherty has said that the decision to part ways with manager Tiernan Lynch was one that had only been finally arrived at quite quickly.

The Brandywell club announced the departure of Lynch on Wednesday after a disappointing season to date.

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The Candystripes sit sixth in the Premier Division table and have won just one of their past seven games.

The former Larne double title winning boss had been manager of Derry since November 2024 and guided them to a second place finish in the league last season, plus qualification for European competition.

O'Doherty told BBC Sport NI that it was "pretty much a snap decision" to part company with Lynch, with it only being finalised on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

"He [Lynch] had a really good season last year, this year hasn't been up to expectations and has been a disappointment," O'Doherty told BBC Sport NI.

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"We've assembled a reasonably good squad we think, and it's getting better with the arrival of Mark Connolly in a director of football role, but I just thought if we were going to make a change now was the right time to do it.

"We've got all to fight for in terms of European spaces and we're still in the cup."

Pressure had been building on Lynch in recent months in light of poor results, with some supporters vocal in calling for a change.

"I don't follow social media and I don't follow a lot of the football pundits either. I look at what's happening on the field and speak to my fellow directors and we make a decision, and we thought it was time," explained the Derry chairman.

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"The players weren't expecting it and were probably thinking we will fight through the rest of the season but by and large they understand it.

"He [Tiernan] was disappointed but we shook hands and I wished him the best of luck."

Connolly 'has shown all the right qualities'

Former club captain and recently appointed director of football Connolly has been named interim manager at the club.

"He [Connolly] knows the squad of players, he lives in Derry, which is very important. Mark was part of the team, he was the captain of the team that got second place last year and he came in as director of football," added O'Doherty.

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"Mark would have a lot of respect from those players. Bringing anybody new in was probably going to be difficult anyway.

"I think Mark fits the bill. He's a young manager and I think it will take a little bit of help from the senior players in particular. Michael Duffy is the captain but we will probably need four or five captains because he lacks experience in managing.

"But he has shown all the right qualities so far and he's certainly a man motivator. I just think it's a challenge that he'll rise to and he certainly made himself available once the question was asked."

'We know we haven't been good enough'

Club captain Michael Duffy said the players were told the news of Lynch's departure after training and described it as "a difficult day".

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"You don't like to see anyone losing their job but it is what it is. As players we move on and try and get three points on Friday. We know we haven't been good enough this year.

"I played with Mark and he's a real leader. He knows football, he knows this group and he knows a lot of the players."

Derry are at home to Sligo Rovers in their next league fixture on Friday night, a game which will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

"We need to go and play with confidence and build on what we've been doing the past few weeks.

"We need to finish strongly, climb up that table and try to catch that European spot and try to win that cup," Duffy added.

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