Peter Hutton resigns as Finn Harps manager

Peter Hutton has resigned as the manager of First Division club Finn Harps.
He made the announcement just minutes after Harps’ final home league game of the season against Athlone Town last night.
Finn Harps won their game against the newly crowned Division One Champions by three goals to two but this first win after five straight league losses was overshadowed by the news that the Donegal club is now managerless.
Hutton, who enjoyed a distinghuished playing career with Derry City – with ogver 600 appearances –
also managed Derry twice as caretaker manager – in 2004 for a short period in the aftermath of Gavin Dykes’ departure and prior to the appointment of Stephen Kenny, and in 2007 succeeding Pat Fenlon.
On 3 May 2011 Peter Hutton took over the management of Finn Harps along with former Northern Ireland international and fellow former Derry City player Felix Healy.
Healy subseqeuntly departed and Hutton took full control.
Harps were fancied by many to challenge strongly for promotion and to build on last season.
However, after a bright start they struggled – particularly away from home.
Hutton did guide Harps to an FAI Cup quarter-final for the first time since 1999 but they went into the Athlone game on the back of a five match losing run in the league. His departure was not hugely unexpected.
Hutton issued a statement afterwards in which he thanked the club for giving him the opportunity to take charge.
But it is clear that the financial realities of running a club on a shoestring was frustrating and clearly inhibited his desire to develop the team further.
Harps have just one game left, away to Salthill Devon next weekend.