Keith Long pinpointed Waterford’s ambition as a reason to jump back into the fire.
The Dubliner has today been appointed Blues manager in the wake of Danny Searle’s sacking and will take charge of the First Division side against Finn Harps on Friday.
Long was Bohemians manager for eight years, having joined from Athlone in 2014, until a parting of the ways last August but was keen to get back into management.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to work with Waterford FC. It’s a great football club with great tradition and is a real footballing city,” he said.
“After meeting the owner and his senior staff, these are exciting times for a club, which has real ambition. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Waterford sacked Searle on Monday, just five games into the new season where the Blues had been the pre-season promotion favourites.
The Englishman paid the price for a slow start that has left Waterford sitting fifth and already 10-points behind leaders Galway United.
Searle, 44, landed the Waterford job last summer and reached the relegation-promotion playoff final against UCD, but lost to the Students.
But the ex-Aldershot boss was handed a new ‘long-term’ contract in November ahead of this season, where the Blues were fancied to win the First Division.
Long will now be tasked with getting their season back on track before reeling in the Tribesmen and pushing for a top flight return.
When Searle was axed, the club immediately posted an ad looking for a ‘highly motivated head coach to lead the team to promotion in the upcoming (sic) season’.
It suggested Waterford were about to embark on a trawl for a new manager - but the process proved to be a swift one with Long the chosen candidate.
His arrival at the RSC - ahead of an official unveiling and press conference before the Harps game - has been well received by Blues fans.
And the appointment has also been hailed by club owner Andy Pilley who is flying in from England to meet Long ahead of Friday’s game.
Pilley - who also owns English League One outfit Fleetwood Town - said: “I’m delighted to welcome Keith to Waterford FC as the club’s new head coach.
“We had a number of very high profile applicants for the job, but Keith was the stand-out candidate and ticked every box for us.
“Keith is a hugely experienced and respected manager in the League of Ireland.
“It speaks volumes about the reputation of Waterford FC that we’ve been able to attract someone like Keith to the role.
“I’m hugely excited for the future and am looking forward to being at the RSC for Keith’s first game on Friday night.”
Long has yet to confirm his backroom team but existing Blues coaches Brian Murphy, Gary Hunt and David Breen are expected to be involved against Harps.
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