IRA claims ‘absolute nonsense’ - Kelly

‘I left Northern Ireland a long time ago. For this to come out the way it did is absolute nonsense.’— Latics manager Darren Kelly

NEW Athletic manager Darren Kelly has refuted claims he is a supporter of the IRA.

“MY admiration for Martin McGuinness is for his work in the peace process — I’m not political, the only thing I want in Northern Ireland is peace,” Kelly said in the Irish press, rejecting claims made by club fans.

He told both the Belfast Newsletter and the Portadown Times that he respected McGuinness for his leading role in the peace process - not for his actions during the troubles.

Kelly, who was appointed Latics manager on Monday, came under fire for a tweet that apparently referred to McGuinness as “a legend”.

A Facebook group — Sack IRA-supporting Darren Kelly as Oldham Athletic manager — was immediately set up and hordes of fans took to social media to demand a refund on their season tickets.

The furore started when a tweet circulated showing Kelly thanking McGuinness — Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister — for sending him a photograph of his mum Peggy taken at a Bloody Sunday commemoration.

Darren’s uncle, Michael Kelly, was one of those shot dead by paratroopers in January 1972.

Kelly, who has since deleted his Twitter account, said things have been “blown out of proportion” adding: “I have no political views. People who know what I’m about know there is absolutely nothing sinister or violent or whatever in my body. I left Northern Ireland a long time ago. For this to come out the way it did is absolute nonsense.”

twitter: @DawnMarsdenOC