DAMIEN DUFF has sensationally quit as manager of Shelbourne just months after leading the club to the league title.
The ex-Celtic coach, 46, has left the Dublin side with immediate effect just two days after his furious rant about his players following Friday night’s 1-0 defeat to Derry City.
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He blasted the attitude of his players and their preparation ahead of league clash at Tolka Park.
Shelbourne clinched the league title last season but they currently sit sixth in the league and 15 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers after their latest defeat.
It’s believed the players were informed of the news in a meeting this morning.
The shock decision from Duff comes just two weeks before Shelbourne’s crunch Champions League qualifier against Linfield.
The Republic of Ireland champions will take on the Northern Irish champions in a first round qualifying tie but Duff won’t be involved.
Addressing the under-performing Shelbourne stars on Friday, furious Duff said: “The biggest thing to take away was (a lack of) quality, quality, quality, absolutely zero energy, flatness.
“I don’t accept that that’s our third game in a week. Never have, never will until the day I die.
“If you are an amazing pro you bounce into the night. Even if you are a bit tired, a bit flat, drag yourself along, give yourself a talking to.
“Here, I don’t like being the one shouting and screaming on the sideline… “Duffer’s at it again!” That’s the energy that I have.”
He added: “I prepared for the game today like I was a professional footballer. My wife probably cursed me at times. Three-hour siesta, ate really well, focused my mind.
“I would like to really, really know how many of my players prepared like me or as well as me, which is damning.
“There was a severe lack of energy, real flatness, severe lack of quality and you are going to get nowhere.
“I’ve been around football a long, long time and you can have training amazing on a Thursday and be really poor on a Friday. You can have a poor training session on a Thursday and be brilliant on a Friday.
“So it was off the back of two days of not being on the pitch. Played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday back in Thursday.”
Duff was previously a coach at Celtic and spent 16 months at Parkhead in various roles.
He left his post in June 2020 to become Stephen Kenny‘s assistant in the Republic of Ireland setup.
He then landed his first manager gig with Shelbourne when he took over the hot-seat in 2021.
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