Bohemian FC is delighted to confirm the appointment of Gary Cronin as men’s first-team assistant manager to Declan Devine.
The club can also confirm that Derek Pender’s dedicated service to the club will continue into its 12th year as he remains as first-team coach next season.
Meanwhile, as the first team transitions to morning training and a full-time set-up next season, we are delighted to confirm that Trevor Croly, having served as assistant manager for the past six seasons, will now assume a new role within the club’s academy.
Cronin comes to Dalymount having managed Longford Town last season. His footballing career is synonymous with Longford and Bray Wanderers having played for, coached and managed both clubs.
Cronin said: “After speaking to people within this club over the past number of weeks, everyone speaks about Bohemians with pride and with their chest out, and rightfully so.
“I am really looking forward to joining a club that will be operating in a proper full-time environment. It is something that I have always wanted to do, and I can’t wait to get started.
“It is a fresh start for the club. Declan has come in and I am really impressed about his plans for what he wants to do. I want to support him and be a part of that.
“For me, I am bringing experience to the club from my time as both a coach and a manager in this league. It is important for Declan to have that behind him as this is a massive club and he has a massive job. He needs to be able to rely on me and the rest of the backroom team.
“This is a unique club in terms of its model in this country. It has started to dawn on me that when we lead the team out next year, a couple of thousand of the people in the ground are owners of this club.
“This is their club, so it is our job as a backroom team to make sure that the football team gives everything for those people.
“The atmosphere in Dalymount is something special. It was always a great atmosphere when I came here to play against Bohs. The place can be electric, the fans are close to the pitch, and they get behind their team.
“I have always felt Dalymount was a great place to come and play football. There is a huge history here and we want to add to that.”
Devine said: “I have watched Gary’s progress as a coach and manager from afar and he is someone I have been really, really impressed with.
“I watched Gary’s teams at Bray and Longford, and I have always been impressed with how they have been set up and how his sides express themselves, and many players that Gary has coached and helped develop have gone on to be extremely successful.
“He will be a huge asset as we evolve into a full-time set-up. I am delighted to welcome him to the club, and I think players and staff will really take to him.
“For me it was really important to keep Derek Pender at the club too. When you come to a club for the first time, you try to assess the people around you.
“What I have seen from Detser is incredible dedication, and someone who is going to have a fantastic future in coaching. This club means absolutely everything to him and he is the kind of person I want working with me.
“I am also delighted that Trevor has committed to staying with the club.
“He has already contributed so much to this club in his six years here, and the wealth of experience and knowledge of the game that he has from his time at this club, but also from managing and coaching in the league for 17 years, will be an absolutely incredible addition to our academy structure as we look to continue to develop and bring players through to the first team.”