Martin Lawlor was yesterday named the new manager of Longford Town in succession to Stephen Kenny who left the midlands club earlier this month to take over at Bohemians.

Lawlor, who has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract, beat off competition from Bobby Browne and Paul Doolin in the final round of discussions to take up his second managerial position in the National League, following a two-year spell at Drogheda United in the late 1990s.

Winner of every honour in the game in a club career spent mainly with Dundalk, the 43-year-old Dubliner led Drogheda to promotion when winning the First Division title in 1998/99 but he left the club early the following season.

Having been out of the game for two years, Lawlor is a somewhat surprising choice, but is believed to have greatly impressed Longford at his interview.

"We believe we've got the right man for the position," said Longford vice-chairman Jim Hanley. "We are ambitious, but his ambitions even outstrips ours. The fact he spent so much of his career at Dundalk suggests he is a very loyal person and we admire that."

Lawlor met his players for the first time before they played St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park last night but took no active part in the match. His first game in charge will be next Saturday's home league clash with Cork City.

Ards will this afternoon say farewell to Castlereagh Park when they play current Irish League Premier Division leaders, Glentoran. Ards are moving to a new ground further along the Portaferry road.