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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Paul O'Hehir

Keith Long insists he has no intention of leaving Bohemians

Keith Long insists he has no intention of leaving Bohemians and is fully committed to the Gypsies cause.

Cork City - who Bohs host at Dalymount Park tonight - are in the market for a permanent successor to John Caulfield who left the Rebels on Wednesday.

Long - who signed a new three-year deal in October - may yet be on Cork’s radar considering the job he has done with the Dublin club on a tight budget.

But he stressed yesterday that he is not interested in the vacancy and when asked how he would respond if approached, Long said: “No”.

Long said: “I'm working with Bohs and I'm happy at Bohs. Simple answer to that question. I won't be linked to the job.

“I don't know if you guys (reporters) might think differently but I won't be linked with the Cork job, I'm sure of it.

“They’ll have other candidates, I'm sure, who are well ahead of me on that list. I'm working for Bohs and I'm happy here. I've got a job to do here.

“My commitment is to the club. They've given me a great opportunity. Thankfully we - the squad, the backroom team - have been able to be relatively successful.

“We've done a steady job. What goes on at other clubs is immaterial to what we're trying to achieve here.

“We're trying to build a club and make it more competitive on the pitch and win some silverware. That's what we want and that's what all managers want.”

Cork City manager John Caulfield quit during the week (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Caulfield is Cork City’s most successful manager after five top-two finishes in as many years during which he won a league title and two FAI Cups.

Interim boss John Cotter is Long’s opposite number tonight but of Caulfield, the Bohs boss said: “It's disappointing to see John go.

“He's been their most successful manager. I’d have thought they would have a squad strong enough to overcome their indifferent start.

“Well, it's more than a start as they haven't been quite up to their standards.

“It's disappointing to see him go as he's done a great job with Cork and a great service to football in Cork and Cork City.

“They have really good players Cork, so tonight is going to be very tough. They could be liberated by new voices in the dressing room, you just don't know.

“It doesn't matter whether John was in the dugout or a new man is in temporary charge tonight, Cork are tough opposition and have really tough players.

“They finished in the top two for the last five seasons, won Cups and won a league. They don't become a bad team overnight, that's for sure. They’re a dangerous team for us.”

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