St. Francis manager Jimmy Harte has stepped down from his position after the club's disastrous start to their division one campaign.

With only five points from ten games since the beginning of the season the club were underachieving and Harte thought it was time for them to take another direction so he resigned. His technical staff also follow him out of the club.

St. Francis thought that they might get some relief in the Eircom League Cup - but being drawn in a group with Shelbourne and St. Patrick's Athletic was the kiss of death.

Even though they lost 3-1 to St. Pat's and 5-0 to Shelbourne they came out of the cup visibly stronger after playing better opposition, as Limerick were to find out in the club's only win of the season.

When expected to do nothing in Hogan Park they surprised everybody with a 4-1 win.

Since then the club has gone back to their bad old ways, drawing with bottom team Drogheda before the last straw at the weekend when Monaghan beat them 3-1.