Paul Doolin has ended speculation on a possible move back to Bohemians as their manager by agreeing a new two-year deal with Drogheda United.
Regarded as a progressive manager, 41-year-old Doolin, who had two spells at Bohemians as a player, was out of contract at the end of this season, fuelling rumours he was the leading contender to replace Stephen Kenny, summarily sacked by Bohemians after their UEFA Cup loss to Levadia Tallinn last week.
But the Drogheda board, who had been drawing up a new deal before the Dalymount Park post became vacant anyway, moved quickly to tie Doolin to a contract until November 2006.
"I am delighted with the way things have turned out," said Doolin. "The present set-up and the club's plans for the future are top class."
Doolin could have added reason to celebrate come 9.40 tonight: a win by three goals or more over Shamrock Rovers at United Park would put Drogheda top of the table on goal difference ahead of Shelbourne.
Midfielder Alan Reilly is fit again following a two-month lay-off with a knee injury, though Doolin is unlikely to change a side that's won its last three league games without conceding a goal.
Rovers add striker Stephen Grant, suspended for Monday's win over Longford Town, to their squad, which remains without injured midfielders Derek Tracey and Paul Caffrey.
Injuries will again hamper second-from-bottom Longford's attempts to get out of the rut of just one win from their last 12 league games when they visit Waterford United.
Darragh Sheridan, Philip Keogh, Stephen Paisley and Brian Byrne are all still out while Seán Dillon, sent off against Shamrock Rovers on Monday, is suspended.
Manager Alan Mathews is hoping his captain Barry Ferguson will be over a thigh strain and can partner Graham Gartland in central defence. Striker Paul Keegan will also have to prove his fitness if he's to feature.
Waterford are scarcely much better off as they seek to regain the form they enjoyed in the first half of the season and improve on a record of one win from their last seven league games.
Suspensions for David Breen and Kevin Waters see them sit this one out alongside the injuredJohn Frost (captain), Vinny Sullivan, Willie Bruton and Wayne Fitzgerald.
Goalkeeper Dan Connor and Mark Clifford return from suspension while manager Alan Reynolds says he's likely to give PJ Banville his first league start of the season up front with skipper Daryl Murphy.
Reynolds has loaned fringe players Paul Leahy and John Hayes to First Division neighbours Kilkenny City for the remainder of the season.
A wary Pat Dolan returns to Richmond Park hoping his Cork City can achieve a third win of the season over St Patrick's Athletic and maintain their title challenge.
"This is probably St Pat's best spell of the season," said their one-time supremo Dolan. "They've had back-to-back wins against Drogheda and Dublin City in the league, and now they are looking up the table rather than down."
St Patrick's are without the suspended Dessie Byrne with either Karim El Khebir or David Bell expected to fill the left-back slot in his absence.
"They'll be anxious to bounce back from that defeat, as they need to win for their own reasons," said St Patrick's manager John McDonnell after watching Cork lose at Drogheda on Monday night.
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES (7.45 unless stated): National League Premier Division - Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers; St Patrick's Athletic v Cork City; Waterford United v Longford Town (7.30). First Division - Athlone Town v Finn Harps; Monaghan United v Galway United (8.0).
