Former Cork City manager Alan Mathews has been confirmed as the new Drogheda United boss, replacing Paul Doolin, the man who took over from him at Turner’s Cross.

Mathews, a former Drogheda player under Ray Tracey in the eighties, has signed a two-year deal with the 2007 Premier Division champions but has yet to recruit any players.

Drogheda recently came out of examinership and financial restructuring has left them without any playing staff on the books.

The manager has until February 23rd to register a squad and says he is already in talks with the players about joining the Drogheda revival.

“It’ll be a hard and tough season,” he admitted, “but anyone can have a successful season if you approach it properly.

“You can’t always get what you want in football but you have to be prepared to fight.

“I want the team to be competitive and to fight, but more importantly to get it back to where it was,” he added.

Like most managers in the league, Mathews will have to work off a significantly reduced budget this year, approximately €6,000 per week for players wages.

Mathews has yet to name an assistant and says he is considering a number of candidates.

However, after belt tightening at Cork and restricted budget at Longford Town, it will be familiar enough territory for the man who despite enduring a turbulent season with Cork last year, brought the Setanta Sports Cup back to Leeside.

Drogheda have also announced that chairman Vincent Hoey, who, along with his fellow directors, has bankrolled the club to the tune of €9million, will be stepping down and replaced by Jim McArdle.

McArdle has been director of football at the club and licensing officer for the past five years. Hoey described him today as “a safe pair of hands”.