NOEL KING watched Dundalk win their first game of 2024 at the 12th attempt and insisted it had little to do with him.
Owner Brian Ainscough went on a solo run in appointing King four days before the club’s deadline for accepting applications.
His decision did not go down well with many fans but the 67-year-old got off to a great start as they earned a deserved 2-0 win over Bohemians.
But he took a deliberate back seat with the club’s head of football operations Brian Gartland and first-team coach Liam Burns – who had been in caretaker charge since Stephen O’Donnell’s dismissal – calling the shots from the sidelines.
King said: “The two lads were doing the training all week, and the sessions were very good, the mood was very good, they were coming off the back of a very good draw last weekend.
“There’s lads’ names I’m mixing up and, if I’m roaring and shouting, and it’s the wrong person…it doesn’t make sense for me to be up there.
“I just wanted to see as well how the lads operated on the bench and they were fine. They got messages across, I was certain the players could hear them so that was very positive
“Everybody was geared up for it, everyone wanted it, and I was just glad to see the two boys coordinating it and working and it was a great victory.
“I mean the opening 45 minutes was blistering, really blistering, and should have got more than two. That would have been another match altogether.
“I didn’t see it coming, no, but I was fairly confident that they would put in a performance. I wasn’t confident they’d win, you never can be, but it’s very enjoyable when you do.”
King confirmed Burns would remain as first-team coach. There may be new additions to the staff but the 67-year-old insisted he was in no rush to change things and claimed he might not take a more prominent role.
He said: “I mightn’t, I have to see whatever would be best for the team and whatever gives us the best chance of getting a victory. It’s not about me, it’s about the players and performances and points.
“Why would you change it? The lads have been great, the result was great but it doesn’t stop at this, it can’t stop at this.
“The performance was very good and at the very least much match it and then try to raise the standard again to bring Dundalk back to where we belong and that’s a big, big task because there are loads of good teams around the league.”
Next Friday will see Dundalk welcome Shelbourne – where King enjoyed a successful stint as manager of the women’s team – on Friday before making the short trip to Weavers Park three days later.
King said he had minimal dealings with Damien Duff during his time there but he still lives within a stone’s throw of Tolka Park.
He said: “I can see it out my back garden. I can also see Dalymount from the same window but I can walk to Shelbourne and get a sliced pan.”
And he added: “It will be interesting to manage a Louth derby, it will be nice. Safe home lads, if you see a big smile in the middle of the road, you’ll know where it’s coming from.”