Former Chelsea star ‘RESIGNS from his role as manager’ with players and staff ‘shocked’ over his exit – days after he called them a ‘pub team’

By JEORGE BIRD

A former Chelsea star has reportedly resigned from his role as a club’s manager.

The news has left players and staff stunned and comes just days after he referred to the side as a ‘pub team’.

During his time at Chelsea he won two Premier League titles as well as the League Cup.

He also played for several other Premier League clubs and made 100 appearances at international level.

The individual had been in charge of his club since 2021 and had enjoyed success in terms of winning silverware.

However, he has now seemingly elected to depart. 

A former Chelsea player has reportedly resigned from his position as the club’s manager

As reported by RTE, Damien Duff has resigned from his position as manager of Shelbourne.

Duff has chosen to leave the club following a 1-0 defeat at home to Derry City on Friday, with Shelbourne currently in sixth place in the table.

Shelbourne are in action at home to Waterford on Monday but it appears that Duff won’t be in the dugout.

Duff was furious after the game against Derry City and claimed that his players had performed like a pub team.

He said: ‘This (the Premier Division) is your bread and butter. They are in Europe, in the Champions League, because of the league. 

‘I asked them before the (Derry) game, I said it’s 18 days until the Champions League, and I said if they’d have a Champions League mentality, motivation, energy here.

‘I’d say pub teams have better motivation, energy, quality than us. Damning words, but I’m correct in saying them.’

There was further criticism of his players from Duff as he said: ‘I’ll never give them an out of three games in a week. As I said to them at half-time, as I said to them at the end of the game, how well did you as individuals prepare? Did you have an hour in the sunshine yesterday or today?

Damien Duff has stepped down from being in charge of Irish club Shelbourne

Ex-Republic of Ireland international Duff won the Premiership title twice with Chelsea

‘I’d say I prepared better than some guys. Granted, even when you do prepare, you might come in flat, lack of energy.

‘How motivated are you then to pull yourself out of that rut, give yourself a talking to? I think some of our guys just accept it and sit there for the night.

‘They are hurting, as they should be and we should be.

Duff guided Shelbourne to the league title in the 2024 season, while the club also reached the final of the FAI Cup in 2022, where they were beaten by Derry City. 

During his playing career Duff represented Chelsea between 2003 and 2006. He also played for Blackburn, Fulham and Newcastle. 

He had a lengthy international career with the Republic of Ireland, during which he earned a century of caps.

:
Former Chelsea star ‘RESIGNS from his role as manager’ with players and staff ‘shocked’ over his exit – days after he called them a ‘pub team’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk