Dylan Kerr breaks silence on speculations surrounding Gor Mahia vacancy

Dylan Kerr breaks silence on speculations surrounding Gor Mahia vacancy

Festus Chuma 09:01 - 22.11.2024

'Ker' Dylan is clear about not returning to Gor Mahia despite fans' pleas citing respect for the club’s leadership.

Former Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr has dismissed any possibility of returning to the Kenyan giants despite a section of fans lobbying for his comeback.

Kerr, who enjoyed a successful stint with the club, confirmed he has no plans to take up the vacant coaching role after the exit of Brazilian tactician Leonardo Neiva.

The FKF Premier League champions parted ways with Leo Neiva eight days ago following a string of poor results that saw the coach manage only six matches.

“Unfortunately it’s not going to happen. Too much respect for the club chairman Ambrose (Rachier). I love my chairman, but I’ve had my time at Gor Mahia,” Kerr said as per FlashScore.

His statement is a blow to fans who believed the Englishman, a free agent, was the ideal candidate to steady the ship and bring back the glory days.

Kerr first joined Gor Mahia in July 2017 and made an immediate impact, winning the Kenyan Premier League title in his debut season.

He repeated the feat in 2018 and added the Kenyan Super Cup and SportPesa Super Cup to the trophy cabinet.

His tenure also included a historic qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup group stages. Such accomplishments cemented his place in the hearts of fans, who now see him as the perfect man to rescue the team.

Asked if he had been approached by Gor Mahia since the dismissal of Neiva, Kerr clarified, “For now, I’ve not spoken to anyone (from the club), but in any case, no, I won’t come back, and they won’t come for me.”

Kerr’s coaching journey after leaving Gor Mahia has been eventful. He moved to South Africa’s Black Leopards in 2018, where he became the first coach in a decade to win the Coach of the Month award.

He later guided the team to avoid relegation. His tenure at Baroka FC was equally impactful, though it ended in controversy after he was suspended in November 2020 for allegedly undermining the club chairman. Kerr took legal action and won his case.

Returning to Black Leopards, he continued his trend of saving clubs from relegation.

At Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in 2021, he won the prestigious Nedbank Cup, proving his ability to deliver silverware under pressure.

His subsequent stint at Moroka Swallows also saw him pull off a dramatic relegation escape via playoffs.

Most recently, Kerr was at Marumo Gallants but resigned three weeks into his tenure after disagreements with the club’s management over the appointment of a co-coach.

The news leaves Gor Mahia fans yearning for a new solution to reignite the club’s fortunes while remembering the golden days Kerr brought to the team.

In the interim, assistant coaches Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and Michael Nam have been handed the reins as the club searches for a permanent solution.