Jack O’Connor has stepped down as manager of Kerry

Jack O'Connor has stepped down as manager of Kerry after his second spell in charge of the Kingdom.

After rumours all day that  Jack O’Connor was going to step away from his managerial postion it was announced shortly after half past one, that O’Connor had left the role he had held for the past four years.

It was formally announced on Radio Kerry this afternoon.

Despite a late comeback in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal last weekend, Kerry lost by two points by 1-12 to 1-10, ending their championship involvement for another year, having lost in the final to Dublin the year previously.

In two stints at the helm of the Kingdom, O’Connor has won three All-Ireland finals. According to Tony Leen of The Irish Examiner O’Connor couldn’t think of any reasons to stay on.

There were some doubters when O’Connor decided to take up a second term in charge of the most successful county in Gaelic football in 2008 after he wrote his revelatory autobiography Keys to the Kingdom in 2007.

O’Connor quickly silenced the critics, his side winning the All-Ireland in 2009 in his first year back.

Kerry will have a tough job to replace him.