Last weekend, Dundalk shocked the League of Ireland by appointing Noel King as their new manager.
It's been far from plain sailing for the club in recent times, and they find themselves sitting rock bottom of the Premier Division without a win all season.
Between 2014 and 2019, the club won five of the six possible Premier Division titles, but the memories of the success feel further away than ever for The Lilywhites.
After parting ways with Stephen O'Donnell, it's understood that owner Brian Ainscough went on somewhat of a solo run when it came to appointing a new manager. Despite job applications being open until the middle of this week, Ainscough appointed his choice last Saturday.
Dan McDonnell of the Irish Independent reported that club officials had been in contact with other candidates for the job before realising that the owner had turned to King.
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Noel King: "It was 100% unexpected"
Noel King stepped away from management at the end of last season after a number of successful seasons with Shelbourne in the Women's League of Ireland.
The connection between Brian Ainscough and Noel King goes back quite some while, with King coaching the Dundalk owner during his playing days with Home Farm.
Speaking ahead of his first game in charge of Dundalk this Friday, Noel King explained that it was Ainscough who approached him.
Brian approached me. My instant reaction was ‘I’m delighted you rang’ – I’d love the job. I have to pass it by Marie my wife, that gave me a few minutes to think about it. (It was) All in the space of an hour or two, that’s all.
I didn’t apply. It was 100 percent unexpected. I saw the number and thought maybe…it was very, very quick.
Noel King also expressed his excitement at the opportunity.
I had no hesitation at all. I was surprised at the offer because I know Brian a long time. No hesitation because it's a great club, one of the best clubs in Ireland success-wise. It's a challenge and I'd love to try and make it a success. The owner wanted to progress things and feels I can do the job. And I don’t say no.
The former Republic of Ireland U21 manager certainly has his critics, and some Dundalk supporters took to some extreme lengths after hearing of his then rumoured arrival at Oriel Park.
James Rogers of the Dundalk Argus reported that fans even approached Brian Ainscough in an attempt to put him off appointing Noel King after negative social media reaction to the news, but there was no changing the mind of the owner.
It's been almost two decades since King last managed in the league and almost six since he took charge of a men's team.
Dundalk who were once the team to beat in the Irish game now find themselves in unchartered waters and at the basement of the table.
The bold appointment will have to pay off if they're to avoid the drop to the First Division, but it's safe to say that Ainscough will face the full wrath of supporters if it goes south.
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