Stephen Kenny hits back at ’empty vessel’ Ian Harte

"For some reason, he wants to have a personal go at me."

Harte, who now works as an agent, said that some clubs in Ireland are pricing young Irish players out of transfers to England and 'killing' their chances of getting a move away.

The former Leeds United full-back, who represented Ireland 64 times, also criticised St Patrick's Athletic manager Kenny.

Harte said Kenny has now 'found his level' in the League of Ireland after his challenging spell as Ireland manager.

Harte's comments were put to Kenny ahead of St Pats' game against Sligo Rovers on Friday night.

"I think he is an empty vessel," Kenny said in a press conference.

"He is an agent. What he is trying to do is, he thinks he should profit more from a deal with a lad going to England than a club should get for having him for 10 years.

He thinks his agency fee should be higher than what a club could get.

"His issue is probably with Stephen McPhail. Stephen McPhail is sporting director at Shamrock Rovers.

"Stephen McPhail seems to be a fair-minded man. His issues seem to be with Shamrock Rovers and Stephen McPhail was his former teammate."

Kenny also noted that Harte criticised him from the very start of his reign as Ireland manager. The former Leeds United full-back tweeted in 2023 that Kenny was 'out of his depth' in the role.

"For some reason, he wants to have a personal go at me," Kenny said.

"I’ve never met Ian Harte, I’ve never had a conversation with him, I’ve never come across him in any shape or form. I have met his uncle, Gary Kelly, a good few times and he is an absolute gentleman, a really impressive man.

“It was interesting, my very first game as (Ireland) manager was against Bulgaria.

"The headlines after the game were that Ian Harte was tweeting this and that. I was like, 'I know there are going to be a few people waiting in the long grass, but he’s a bit early, the game isn’t even finished'.

Kenny also questioned whether Harte has an issue with him because the St. Pats boss chose not to keep Harte's friend Robbie Keane on his coaching staff with the Ireland team.

Keane was part of the Ireland coaching staff under Mick McCarthy, Kenny's predecessor, but he was not kept on when the managerial change happened in 2020.

"People were saying in the FAI, 'Well, he’s Robbie Keane’s friend, he’s been his teammate and he’s upset. He wants to show loyalty, he wants to get after you'," Kenny said.

"So, I said, okay, I’m not going to respond to it at that time.

"Now I’m thinking, I’m a year and a half out of the job and he wants to have a go, (and say) 'Stephen’s found his level'. Why would he want to say that? What would be his motivation for wanting to bring me into the conversation?

"I find that strange. I’m happy to be involved with the League of Ireland. I’m very proud of that.

"I’m very proud that I’ve managed the international team, I am very proud to work every single day as a coach, wherever that is.

"I think there is only one Irish coach working in the 92 clubs in England as head coach."