'Horrendous' prospect of finishing career with relegation motivates new Dundalk manager, who is ready to show 'nasty streak'

Noel King is ready to show a “nasty streak” in his bid to win Dundalk fans over.

And he is extra-motivated to help the Lilywhites climb up the table because he reckons it would be “horrendous” if he finished his career with a relegation on his CV.

The 67-year-old was installed on an 18-month contract last weekend and spoke yesterday for the first time in front of the national media.

Owner Brian Ainscough’s decision to appoint King to his first men’s League of Ireland role in over 20 years sent shockwaves around the country.

Fans have been taking to social media to air - as the Dundalk media officer generously put it in an inhouse interview - their mixed reviews on the arrival of the former Lilywhites player.

Asked if he was relishing the opportunity to prove people wrong, King replied: “I have a nasty little streak in me too. I think that I’ll probably relish it.

“But I don’t talk about it until it’s done, and it’s not done yet. So there is no point in saying we are going to do this, that or the other, and I don’t relish anything until it’s done.

“But it’s nice to have the opportunity.

“That’s the way modern life is, isn’t it? It seems to be, anyway. You can say anything you want. That’s been going on for a while.”

First up for the former Ireland women’s, Under-21s and men’s senior interim boss, is Friday’s visit of Bohemians.

“The only way you win them (the fans) over is by winning. There is no other way,” stated King.

“They are not going to applaud you off the pitch and say, ‘well done, hard luck’, if you lose. Youse all know that.”

He added that the reaction to his appointment was seen by his family, who advised him: “Don’t go near it!”

King added: “I don’t go onto the Twitter. So it doesn’t make any difference to me. I don’t know the people who do it.

“But it seems to be common. I don’t think I’m the only one who’s getting lashed, am I? I think anybody just (pretends to type)... and that’s it.”

As for Dundalk’s current predicament, he said: “This would be horrendous. It would be horrendous to finish with relegation. That’s about as emotional as I can get.

“I’ve 20 odd games to fix it and should be able to fix it, in my head.

“I hate making these comments because if any of the players are reading this it’s not me that’s going to change it. It’s always the players that change it. And that’s the truth.”

The Dubliner, meanwhile, paid tribute to his long-time right-hand-man Joey Malone, who is currently ill, saying: “As soon as Joey is up and walking I’ll have him sitting on the bench beside me.”

King’s managerial career began at Derry City, when he took over as player-boss almost 40 years ago when the Candystripes arrived in the League of Ireland.

Since then he has had spells at Shamrock Rovers, Limerick and Finn Harps, as well as at international level.

He took the senior men’s side against Germany and Kazakhstan in 2013, between Giovanni Trapattoni’s departure and the arrival of Martin O’Neill.

So he is well placed to give a view on the current situation, with the managerial hunt set to extend beyond the summer.

“I’m the most experienced and most successful interim, I don’t know why they didn’t give it to me,” he joked.

“I just think John O’Shea has done well. His reputation as a player is incredible. His successes are incredible.

“He’s done OK, he’s done well. I would give it to him. I wouldn’t have a problem. He is a nice man, educated, deals with people well, and knowledgeable in football.”

“He hasn't got the experience of management, no. You have to get experience somewhere and I think he has performed well in the two matches.”