Bohemians fans should be careful what they wish for.
Some - and I stress it’s only some - feel Keith Long has run out of road and fancy a change of boss
That’s all well and good but it’s hard to get a good manager and, anyway, they already have one.
Manchester United are the biggest club in the world but couldn’t pick a manager to save their life.
Shelbourne were in the doldrums for 15 years and look at the shambles Waterford have become because they can’t get the right man.
Frankly, I think Long is being disrespected. He deserves huge credit and should be given more rope as he’s being strangled.
As a club, Bohs deserve the plaudits for re- galvanising the gameday experience at Dalymount Park.
But that doesn’t matter a damn if your team isn’t moving forward all the time and knocking on the door.
The social justice crusade, the climate change initiatives and the Bob Markey jerseys are what they are.
It generated interest and got people through the gates. Those fans have engaged with the club and are energised by it.
That’s the commercial enterprise but, if it works, it should also free up resources for the manager to spend on the team.
Long has worked wonders on a shoestring since 2014 and the European nights last summer created great memories for the fans.
They were then a penalty kick from winning the FAI Cup, only to come out the wrong side.
So Bohs are at a crossroads.
Long sounded hugely frustrated after last week’s derby defeat to Shamrock Rovers when he said new signings were a priority.
The lads calling the shots at Bohs need to decide right now if they’re going to back him or not.
Long feels there’s potential to get something out of the season - and he’s right because third and fourth are up for grabs.
But if you’re setting sights on that, you need to act now.
Long’s problem is that - despite losing key players - expectations remain high at Bohs because of last year.
Yet in the blink of an eye, it all became yesterday’s news as Derry City and St Pat’s kicked on and stole their thunder.
Long missed out on players that he wanted. Why? Because they’ve a better chance of being successful elsewhere.
But Bohs are a big club. Dalymount is still a fabulous place to play and the club has a state-of-the-art training facility, so what’s missing?
Backing - that’s what.
Bohs need to back their manager quickly, because while Keith Long deserves a proper crack off this, his team is in danger of becoming irrelevant.
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I admire the Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers stand against gambling sponsorship.
We should be black and white on this and eradicate it from the game - end of story.
It’s just a short-term focus to look at the money it brings in, but it’s the long-term damage that’s concerning.
Gambling is like a nuclear weapon ready to go off. Nothing good comes of it. It’s a filthy industry that destroys lives.
I can’t look up a result on a website or app without being bombarded with odds on this or that.
It’s a quick win for some, but you might as well have Marlboro emblazoned across your jersey.
Like cigarettes, gambling will eventually become a dirty word too. We’re selling our souls to the devil and there has to be a better way.
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Like the Masters golf, this is ‘moving day’ in the League of Ireland.
The top four all play each other and we’re hitting the stage where the men will sort themselves from the boys.
Those with serious title aspirations will make their move and I wouldn’t be surprised if tonight ends up being pivotal in the season.
I fully expect Shamrock Rovers to win in Sligo.
They will maintain a level of consistency for the rest of the year and it’s up to the others to keep up.
All eyes are on Derry City at Richmond Park where so much is on the line.
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We’ve known about Roy Keane’s dodgy joints for years.
There’s more chance of him getting a hip job, than the Hibs job.
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The name of Punchestown is in the spotlight this week.
I’d be interested in punching someone alright, just not a whole town.
Vets - the modern day chiropractor - would be up there, with their canny knack for lightening the wallet.
My kids adore our dog and two cats but they’re costing me a small fortune.
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Has anyone got a flux capacitor and a DeLorean I can borrow?
I need to get back to the 90s when music was deadly – when bands like Radiohead, Oasis and U2 were in their prime.
When Ed Sheeran didn’t exist.
When Doc Martens were 40 quid and actually cool.
When the best thing about Friday was Chris Evans on TGI Friday and NOT a rugby game being shown on three separate channels at once. What’s happened to us?
