Cork City manager Damien Richardson hopes to sort out the long-term futures of Neale Fenn, Dan Murray and Danny Murphy in the next week before turning his attention to his own contractual position at the club.

The three have been in talks with City for the past two weeks about committing themselves to the Turner's Cross outfit beyond the end of this season, but Richardson says he is confident they will stay at the club and that his own deal, which also runs out after the current campaign, will also be extended.

"It's already gone on too long with the three lads so I'd very much like to get that sorted out at the start of next week," he said yesterday.

"Once that is done I'll start worrying about my own position, although the chairman and myself have already agreed in principle we will be extending the contract."

Richardson replaced Pat Dolan at the club 18 months go and won the league in his first season in charge. He recognises, however, much remains to be done if City are really to fulfil their tremendous potential.

"There a huge catchment area here and we have to put in the mechanisms for spotting talent and then developing it right through to the highest level," he said. "I hope to be here long enough to ensure the ability to do that into the future will be my legacy to Cork City."

This afternoon he must concentrate on the more immediate matter of City's defence of their title as the champions travel to the RSC in Waterford.

Joe Gamble is again suspended while John O'Flynn is injured, having apparently hurt himself in midweek while warming up at half-time in Belgrade, where it was anticipated he would make an appearance as a second-half substitute.

Danny Murphy and Dan Murray are available again after European suspensions, however, and both are likely to go straight back into the starting line-up.

United will again be without Robert Brosnan, Paul Hopkins and Thomas Hawkins, while the newly signed Alan Reilly is a doubt after picking up a knock in training, but Alan Reynolds may start if his recovery from the back problem that kept him out of the defeat by Derry is sustained.

Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy yesterday became the latest player at the club to agree a new long-term deal. The 23-year-old signed a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Murphy said he was delighted with the terms, while manager Niall Quinn said the Ireland under-21 international had done "fantastically well" during pre-season training.

Quinn, meanwhile, admitted yesterday he had failed in an attempt to sign senior Irish international Andy Reid from Tottenham. Quinn had made an approach for Reid and Calum Davenport but was apparently rebuffed by the Londoners.

Reid's future at White Hart Lane continues to look uncertain, reports over the last week or so suggesting he had been offered to Wigan Athletic as part of a deal intended to bring the highly rated French right-back Pascal Chimbonda to Spurs.