Can Declan Devine revive Bohemians' fortunes?

Bohemians took their time, and there were plenty of big names in the mix, but Declan Devine was finally confirmed as their new manager last Friday.

Devine succeeds Keith Long who departed the Dalymount Park club in August after eight years at the helm.

Bohs are sixth in the table and slumped out of the FAI Cup at the quarter-final stage where they were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Shelbourne.

Derek Pender, who has been serving as caretaker boss for the last two months, laid out the challenge facing Devine when he said: "It hasn't been good enough from all of us, players are on the pitch and will know themselves. It’s up to them if they want to buy into what Bohs is as a club and I don’t think everyone has this year. I am sure people will be moving on at the end of the season."

Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-League of Ireland players Keith Treacy and Paul Corry both acknowledged the Gypsies are in a state of flux but expect the experienced Devine to bring some stability and steel to the club.

"It'll be very interesting," said Treacy. "He done well in his two stints in with Derry - not so well in the second half of his second stint, but overall done very well.

"He was at the game on Friday night against Pat's [Bhs lost 3-1]. I was expecting there'd be a bit of a bounce just because he was in the building. You'd think people would think, 'aw the new manger's eyes are on me'. There wasn't really much of that there.

"It's a big job. It's a big, big club in the League of Ireland with a big fan base.

"He will have to hit the ground running. There's a certain degree of success that Bohs fans want, and I don't mean winning the league, I mean challenging for Europe. They didn't get anywhere near it this season.

"Declan Devine, what