Former Chelsea striker linked with replacing Stephen Kenny at Dundalk

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been linked with a move to Dundalk after manager Stephen Kenny vacated his role with the club to take up a position with the FAI and the Ireland U21s.

Kenny won four titles in five years with the Lilywhites and Hasselbaink has emerged as a potential successor alongside Northern Ireland football director Jim Magilton. The Irish Examiner have reported that both Magilton and Hasselbaink have expressed an interest in the job while The Irish Daily Star's Paul Lennon has reported that former Ireland manager Steve Staunton is also interested in the job. Meanwhile Kenny spoke highly yesterday of his assistant Vinny Perth who is poised to succeed the new Ireland U21 manager at the club. "Dundalk are in a really strong place, all the players from last season have signed up for next season," said Kenny at his first press conference at Abbotstown on Monday. "It’s the first season in many seasons that they haven’t lost many players. "There’s a great leadership group there, Vinny Perth, assistant manager, tremendous. Ruaidhri Higgins the coach there, Stephen O’Donnell the captain with Brian Gartland as well. Great leadership group there, they’ll have continued success there I feel."