Drogheda United plans swayed Kevin Doherty in choice to reject Cork City approach

Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty said assurances about future plans at the club influenced his decision to turn down an approach to take up the vacancy at Cork City.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Cork had identified Doherty as a potential candidate to be the permanent successor to Colin Healy, who stepped aside in May.

But Doherty ultimately opted to stay with Drogheda and speaking to RTÉ Sport after Friday's 4-2 defeat to Bohemians at Dalymount Park, he said strong relationships with players and staff as well as positive conversations regarding the blueprint at the Louth club had helped convince him to stay.

"There's hopefully a lot of stuff happening here. The players I have here and the staff, I really, really like working with them," he said, also confirming that his contract at Weaver Park runs until the end of next season.

"I was approached and spoke to (Cork) but we've got our own battle and I want to fight that from this side of it and that's really it.

"I just wanted to get ready and prepare for this game and we've got ten games left and a cup game - at least one and hopefully we've a few more.

"I like working with the players I have and the staff I have. Yes, I had conversations with our own club about the future as well and I'm very pleased with what I heard.

"Hopefully everything that we spoke about, everyone will see at some stage."

He added that investment would be needed at Drogheda to allow the club to compete more readily with rivals.

"Hopefully things will get even better for us here because again, we do need to," he said.

"Everyone knows we're operating off something that probably, I know that there are four or five First Division teams with bigger resources and we're way punching above our weight at