Kerry FC CEO Brian Ainscough has confirmed that his club will make the switch from amateur to part-time for their second season in the League of Ireland in 2024.

Killarney man Ryan Kelliher became the first player to sign a professional contract with the Mounthawk Park club in August and Ronan Teahan also agreed to a pro deal later that month.

Speaking to Kieran Burke on the Between The Stripes podcast as the 2023 season came to a close, Ainscough confirmed that more players will be rewarded with contracts in Year 2.

“We came in as an amateur club,” the US-based Dubliner said. “We told people last year that we would probably go to part-time… I don’t know what people call part-time or full-time in the league - I’m not privy to how other clubs do their payrolls. But we’re basically going to a part-time basis next year which means more training, but which also means the players will get a little money in their pockets.

“The goal down the road is that we become a full-time programme. Next year we’re definitely in a position where we can lock down Ryan Kelliher and players like him.

“We knew we’d come in the first year and see what’s out there. And then, in the second year, push on a bit more. We’re not saying ‘baby steps’, we’re saying ‘steps’. We expect to see progress on the field and off the field as we go forward next year.”