Sligo pasting final straw as Drogs boss Mathews steps down

ALAN MATHEWS last night stepped down as Drogheda United manager, after a run of results that has left the former league champions struggling at the wrong end of the Airtricity Premier Division.

The former Longford Town and Cork City boss admitted he had gone as far as he could with his players having watched them succumb to a 6-0 drubbing at Sligo Rovers over the weekend.

The Drogheda board accepted his decision “with regret” adding their gratitude for what they described as “his outstanding contribution to Drogheda United since he joined the club shortly after it exited examinership last year”.

“It is widely acknowledged that he got the very best out of players in 2009 and it is thanks to his level-headedness during a very difficult season that Drogheda United secured a Premier Division place for 2010,” the statement continued before adding that they have begun the process of finding a new manager.

Drogheda’s next league clash will be a visit to bottom club Bray, who are just three points behind United but with two games in hand.

Mathews pointed out that the timing of his decision was intended to allow the club turn things around in what has become a battle against relegation.

“Unfortunately results have not been good enough and I feel I have gone as far as I can with this group of players,” said Mathews.

“By going now it will allow the club to get someone new in with enough time to hopefully turn things around.”

Last night’s announcement came just prior to Drogs being paired with UCD at home in the FAI Ford Cup Third Round draw which was made in Dublin.

Holders Sporting Fingal will be expected to ease past Mervue United at home while Leinster Senior League side Glenville were handed a home draw against league champions Bohemians. Their Premier Division title rivals St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk were drawn against each other in what should be the tie of the round.

Cork City Foras Co-op will be pleased with drawing non-leaguers Bluebell United at Turner’s Cross for their first ever FAI Cup match while the only other remaining Cork club, Avondale United, were handed the tricky and not too glamorous prospect of a trip to Dublin’s Belgrove.

Full draw:

Belgrove v Avondale United; FC Carlow v Monaghan United; Cork City Foras Co-op v Bluebell United; Derry City v Bray Wanderers; Drogheda United v UCD; Dublin Bus v Shelbourne; Dundalk v St. Patrick’s Athletic; Finn Harps v Crumlin United / Bonagee United; Galway United v Malahide United; Glenville v Bohemians; Limerick v Tolka Rovers / Tralee Dynamos; Longford Town v Waterford United; Shamrock Rovers v Wexford Youths; Sligo Rovers v Athlone Town; Sporting Fingal v Mervue United; Tullamore Town v Salthill Devon.

Ties to be played on the weekend of June 6.