After a brief spell with South African clubs, Dylan Kerr confirms he won’t be returning to Gor Mahia, putting an end to speculation

Dylan Kerr has ruled out the possibility of returning to handle Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions Gor Mahia.

The record Kenyan champions are in the market for a new coach after parting ways with Brazilian Leonardo Martins Neiva due to a string of poor results.

Martins Neiva was fired eight days ago after managing only six matches in the top flight. His exit saw the club promote assistant coaches Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and Michael Nam to coaching roles on an interim basis as they search for Neiva’s successor.

A section of Gor Mahia fans believes Kerr, who helped the team win two league titles, is the right choice to take up the role now that he is a free agent.

“Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. I have too much respect for the club chairman Ambrose (Rachier). I love my chairman, but I’ve had my time at Gor Mahia,” Kerr mentioned in a past interview.

When asked if he had already received any approach from Gor Mahia since Martins Neiva’s sacking, Kerr responded: “For now, I haven’t spoken to anyone (from the club), but in any case, no, I won’t come back, and they won’t come for me.”

Kerr was appointed Gor Mahia coach in July 2017 and won the Kenyan Premier League Manager of the Month award in September 2017 on his way to securing the league title in his first season.

He won the Kenyan Premier League Coach of the Month award again in June 2018 and completed a trophy treble in 2018, winning the Kenyan Premier League, Kenyan Super Cup and SportPesa Super Cup, as well as securing qualification for the 2018 Caf Confederation Cup group stages.

After leaving Gor Mahia, Kerr moved to Black Leopards in the South African Premier Division. He won the Coach of the Month award in January 2019, becoming the first Leopards coach in 10 years to win the accolade, and helped Leopards avoid relegation.

In November 2021, Kerr was appointed coach of Moroka Swallows, with the team in the South African Premier Division relegation zone. He guided Swallows to safety via the play-offs, but his contract was not renewed, and he left the club in September 2022.

His last club in South Africa was Marumo Gallants, whom he joined on July 9th, 2024, after the club purchased PSL status from Kerr’s former club, Moroka Swallows.