McKenna ‘bowled over’ by ambition

May 5 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

KEN McKENNA revealed he was “bowled over” by the chance to manage Cammell Laird.

The Birkenhead club have shown that they mean business for next season’s UniBond League Premier Division campaign by announcing the appointment of the ex-Tranmere Rovers man.

McKenna, who was the manager of Welsh champions TNS when they faced Liverpool in the Champions League qualifying rounds of 2005, replaces Ian Doran, who has moved to the board of directors.

McKenna said: “I agreed with Ian to help Lairds out when I finished with TNS in March.

“In that short period of time I have been bowled over by the ambition and honesty of everybody connected with the club, the plans for the future and general atmosphere at Kirklands.

“It reminds me of the early days at TNS and myself and Neil Young are ready for the challenge that awaits us in the UniBond Premier Division.

“Ian Doran will be a hard act to follow with what he has achieved at Lairds but this is my hometown club and I'm sure that will bring out the best in me.”

Doran has spearheaded Lairds’ amazing rise up the non-league pyramid, which has seen them achieve four promotions in five years, moving from the West Cheshire League to the UniBond Premier in that time.

He said: “I have stood down due to increasing work commitments outside of football.

“It has been a very difficult decision for me to come to but I felt I could not give the job the total commitment it needed.

“But I am delighted to still be involved.”