HE'S probably the only League of Ireland manager who doesn't have control over his team's affairs, but Drogheda United's Brian Donnelly insists he's happy with his lot.

His predecessor Paul Lumsden lasted only 10 days before deciding that the unusual job description didn't suit him. However, former Shelbourne coach and joint Albion Rovers manager Donnelly is settling in nicely after two games working alongside director of football Darius Kierans.

Both appointments came after Kierans was forced to relinquish the 'manager' title because he hadn't yet completed his 'A' Licence coaching badge, and Monasterboice-based Donnelly for one has mixed feelings that the FAI have taken such a tough stance on the issue.

'I wouldn't have a job here otherwise,' laughed Donnelly, 'but you should have to go through the process [of taking your coaching badges] and Darius will do it because he knows his stuff.

'I spoke with [ex Shelbourne manager] Dermot Keely about that situation and he said there should be no courses for management, but I think the system needs to be regulated

" because they need to have some sort of idea about what's going on in the job.

' That said, I read what was happening on Aertel and thought to myself 'leave him alone' because he is close to getting his badge.'

A key aspect of Donnelly's role is that he enjoys a good understanding with Kierans – together with fellow coaches Rory Kerr and Brendan Keeley – and so far at least it seems that both men are on the same wavelength.

'I'm happy with the situation because when I sat down with Darius he explained it to me and I knew the guts of it anyway,' said Donnelly.

'The training was one thing we needed to clear up because you don't want different voices on the training pitch, and there's no point in me jumping in and interfering with something he's already started.

'I knew Darius already, although not on a personal level, and there's a good understanding there. He will be doing the half-time team talks, but he said to me last week that I'll be putting in my input too.

'The players and Darius have made it so easy for me, and I'm loving it.'

Donnelly cut his managerial teeth alongside the more high-profile Liam Callan at MDL Premier club Albion Rovers with whom he won two leagues and two Challenge Cups, and also managed Dundalk Ladies before moving to Shels, who are ironically now managed by ex Drogheda boss Alan Mathews.

'Liam is like an encylopedia and he was a great benefit to me,' Donnelly recalled.

'I was looking after underage teams in Albion and so I'm not going in there blindfolded now because I know some of the young players at Drogheda.

'Being at Shelbourne was great. The people in the club are lovely people and they do look after you.

'I was first-team coach and after Dermot took over youth development myself and Collie O'Neill were looking after the team. But we also knew Alan Mathews was on his way and we were always going to be going, so it wasn't a case of " Drogheda approaching me. I approached them because I knew Darius needed a bit of help.'

What the future holds is anyone's guess, but for now Donnelly is happy to work on keeping Drogheda in the top flight.

'Before we'd played a game I said 'that's where I would like us to be'. I won't say exactly, but it was a very high position and without a doubt I think we can achieve that.

'I'll be with Drogheda until the end of the season and if the club has another role for me after that I will take it up. There's a shortage of cash, but the youth structure is good and there's good young players coming through.

'When I was out on the coaching courses I did say I will be a League of Ireland manager one day, and that's the ultimate challenge [to manage a team myself], but I won't run away from Drogheda.'

- Marcus CAVAROLI