Alan Reynolds, the native of Waterford, is set to commence a fresh tenure as the helm of Bohemians football club starting from his initial training session on Wednesday. Reynolds, the highly-regarded deputy is succeeding Declan Devine at Dalymount Park, vacating his preceding assistant role at his local club and under Bohs previous boss Keith Long. His last contribution was to Jim Crawford’s Irish under-21 side in their resounding 7-0 victory over San Marino the previous Friday.
Reynolds’ first endeavour as Bohs manager is a challenging assignment against reigning champions Shamrock Rovers in the Tallaght amphitheatre on Friday evening. “Dublin derbies exemplify the epitome of football–a ‘genuine match’,” Reynolds asserted. “These are the kinds of matches one longs to partake in. I am eagerly anticipating it.” He acknowledges the fan power and its effect on the team’s morale as crucial.
Reynolds faces the immediate task of turning around the fortunes of a Bohemians side that has had a difficult run under Devine, despite reaching the FAI Cup final last year only to be bested by St Patrick’s Athletic. Currently positioned sixth in the Premier Division, Bohs has secured two victories in five games.
Reynolds is prepared for this significant challenge, knowing it is the right career move for him at the right time. Prior to Reynolds’ appointment, Bohs had conversed with ex-Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, who was tipped to form a managerial partnership with Reynolds due to their past association at Derry City in 2008.
Recalling Bohemians’ European campaign in 2021 at the Aviva Stadium, Reynolds mentioned, “The moment I was approached, I was immensely intrigued. Bohs holds enormous potential.” Though the crowd was reduced to 8,000 due to Covid, he remembers the atmospheric effect similar to that of a 30,000-strong audience. The unforgettable response of the team and the fans is something he hopes to replicate.
At 49 years of age, this is Reynolds’ second stint as a manager. He previously served under Pat Fenlon, Bohs’ current director of football, at Waterford between 2017 and 2020. His tenure witnessed the club’s return to the Premier Division and their qualification for the Europa League in 2018, albeit they were unable to meet the Uefa’s participation criteria.
Reynolds stepped down from his position at Waterford during the global health crisis in 2020 when the club had to discharge the management and players for a short duration. Following this, he served as a deputy at Dundalk. He has prior coaching experience with Derry City (on two occasions), Shelbourne, St Pat’s and Cork City.
Before becoming a coach, Reynolds had a player career span of 16 years. The ex-midfielder had over 330 matches under his belt, notably for Waterford United and later six seasons split between Longford Town, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Shels.
He expressed his enthusiasm about training the promising talents at the club such as James McManus and James Clarke, stating it as an appealing opportunity for any manager. He further shared his excitement about the recent success against Derry City, achieved under the leadership of Derek Pender and Trevor Croly, suggesting there is definitely potential in the team. At this early stage, he’s eager to start training with the squad and emphasises they are prepared to put in the hard work.