Change of ownership will see Damien Duff remain at Shelbourne

Damien Duff is set to continue as Shelbourne manager with a change of ownership at the Tolka Park club to be announced this week.

Hull City owner Acun IIicali will hand back control of the club to its Irish directors, despite only agreeing a deal to purchase a 60% stake back in June in a deal worth an initial €3million.

Duff led Shels to fourth in the SSE Airtricity League Men's Premier Division, which will garner the Drumcondra outfit a Europa Conference spot if St Patrick's Athletic win Sunday's FAI Cup final, however the two-time Premier league winner cast doubt over his own future at the club in the wake of Friday's win over Drogheda.

With the former Ireland international out of contract in the summer it was expected that a new deal would just be a formality, however Ilicali's takeover of the club slowed things down, leading to uncertainty that the Turkish media mogul wanted Duff to remain in his role.

Duff’s backroom staff and many players were similarly in the dark, but there is optimism now that the change of ownership will mean Duff can retain his coaching staff and players.

While the link-up with Championship club Hull was beneficial this season, with Shels benefiting from the loan of Harry Weir and Will Jarvis, there were suggestions Duff was baulking at recruitment being taken out of his hands by Ilicali.