Noel King insists he won't reverse decision to leave Shelbourne

Noel King insists Sunday's Sports Direct FAI Women's Cup final will be his final game in charge of Shelbourne, with the change in ownership at the club not affecting his decision to call it a day.

Last week Hull City owner Acun IIicali handed back control of Shels to its Irish directors, despite only agreeing a deal to purchase a 60% stake back in June.

The restructure led to Damien Duff being handed a fresh deal to lead the men's team into 2024, but King will not be following suit, having announced his intention to leave at the end of October.

The veteran manager has won three trophies in as many years since taking the reins in the winter of 2020, and is now hoping to sign off with another piece of silverware when the Reds square up to Athlone Town in a repeat of last year's decider.

When asked if the ownership situation had altered his plans, King took out a black cap with the word 'retired' emblazoned on the front.

"He [Joey] gave me that," he laughed, pointing to his assistant Joey Malone.

"It is my final game with Shelbourne, yeah, but I'm not dead. Not yet! I will be doing something in football, tormenting some kids or something, I would imagine.

"The Shelbourne thing was great, but it is very intensive. It is a full-time job, which is crazy.

"The teams have got better, better organised. Games have become more difficult, which is what you want. Three days a week training, match day and then you have the things that go on behind the scenes, making phone calls, dealing with the unhappiness of certain people. That's all normal.

"I think I need a rest. I am going to go to the sun, for a while anyway."

"Athlone are very good, it will be a tough game."

King has been around Irish football long enough to know cup finals are an