'King Ken' takes charge of Lairds

3:52pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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NEWLY promoted Cammell Laird have shown that they mean business in the UniBond League Premier Division next season by announcing the appointment of ex-Tranmere Rovers man Ken McKenna as new First Team Manager.

McKenna will be assisted by current first team coach Neil Young.

McKenna replaces outgoing boss Ian Doran, who has been appointed to the Birkenhead club's board of directors.Doran has spearheaded Lairds' amazing rise up the non-league pyramid which has seen Lairds achieve four promotions in five years, moving from the Carlsberg West Cheshire League to the UniBond Premier League in that time.

Lairds are now just two rungs away from Football League status.

In an exclusive interview, McKenna admitted he resisted the lure of the big boys before accepting the Kirklands hot-seat.

Former boss of top Welsh club TNS, McKenna won three successive Welsh League titles and a host of cup honours with the Saints, including the Champions League ties against Liverpool, before leaving by mutual consent in March.

He was quickly linked with the vacant Chester City and Southport jobs, but revealed he was as surprised as everyone else that he was chosen to take over the reins of the Birkenhead club after Doran's step up to the boardroom.

He said: "When I left TNS, Ian asked me if I would come and be an extra pair of eyes around the place. This was extended week by week and finally he asked me if I would take over.

"I wasn't sure at first because there were a couple of other jobs about and I had a sniff of one or two other things, but I said to Ian that if Lairds went up I would consider it.

"Even when they went up, I could have gone to a couple of larger clubs - but Lairds are a very ambitious club and their honesty made me say yes'."

McKenna is banking on the support of chairman John Lynch to keep the club punching above their weight on the back of their amazing rise up the leagues.

"John used to be a boxer and he's still got the fight in him and he has massive hopes for this club," said McKenna.

"He is planning an academy and looking at the possibility of a new stadium, which is fantastic for the club and the local football area as a whole. In the meantime, we are terracing all four sides of the ground and installing 500 extra seats in the close season.

"It is going to be a really big challenge now we are coming up against established clubs like Marine and Prescot Cables - it's all new but there is no reason why we can't get up to the Conference."

News of McKenna's appointment has certainly excited the Lairds fans.

Supporters club spokesman Ian Thelwell said: "Everybody can't stop talking about 'King Ken', as he has been christened, we are really looking forward to next season and the challenge we face.

"It's sad that Ian has decided to step down as he was a real favourite with the fans, but we respect his decision and it's great news that he will still be involved at board level.

"There are good times ahead at Kirklands and I urge any of the curious to pop down and have a look next season."