Oldham Athletic supporters have reacted furiously to the news that new manager Darren Kelly sent a tweet to former IRA leader Martin McGuinness in which he described him as a ‘legend’.
Darren Kelly is under fire from Oldham Athletic fans after a tweet he sent Martin McGuinness was brought into the public domain.
Oldham fans were left unhappy with Kelly’s appointment earlier in the week, citing a lack of experience as the main cause for concern.
However, since news broke of the relationship between Kelly and the controversial Sinn Féin politician fans have called for the former Derry City defender to be removed with immediate effect.
Due to the fierce backlash caused by the emergence of the tweet Kelly was allegedly forced to delete his Twitter account, although he has since denied that was the reason he deleted his account.
A former serviceman told the Oldham Evening chronicle of his disgust at the club’s decision to appoint Darren Kelly as the new first-team manager.
He said, “That’s it for me. I will not support a club whose manager describes a terrorist as ‘a legend’.
“In a town like Oldham, with so many people who have served in the armed forces, many in Northern Ireland, this is a step too far.
“I know there has been a peace process but this is another kick in the face after the Ched Evans affair.
“Did the club know these comments on Twitter even existed? They have alienated another section of their ever-dwindling fan-base and frankly, it’s disgusting.”
Kelly has moved quickly to play down the furore surrounding his political allegiances and the tweet to McGuinness.
Kelly told the Oldham Evening Chronicle, “It’s been blown out of proportion. There is nothing in it whatsoever. I have deleted Twitter, though not on the back of that. My account went into meltdown.
“In terms of the tweet, there is nothing political in it at all. “I am a family man and the manager of this great football club.
“That is what my life is about and I have no political views in that. I understand if people are concerned, but there is nothing in that.”
Despite the club’s attempts to play down the innocent nature of the tweet the controversy won’t go away and some Oldham fans have set up a online campaign to get Kelly removed as manager.
A Facebook page titled Sack IRA supporting Darren Kelly as Oldham Athletic manager has been set-up by the berate fans.
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