Bohemians to cut Kiwi count

Bohemians manager Joe McGrath looks set to halve the number of New Zealanders at the club over the coming days, with goalkeeper Jason Batty and Harry Ngata unlikely to return to Dalymount Park from their current stint of international duty back at home.

McGrath denied last night that the pair had already been released by the club, but said he would be talking to them over the coming days. He expressed disappointment that, given his team's poor start to the league campaign, the pair had opted to return home for New Zealand's Oceanic Championship matches, although he understood the players' desire to play for their country.

Nevertheless, their decision appears to have made up McGrath's mind for him as the former New Zealand manager looks for ways to cut a wage bill which has gone beyond budget because fewer players than expected had left over the summer.

McGrath did make it clear that, as far as he was concerned, the quality of the players wasn't an issue. "Some of the papers have been saying that they weren't good enough, but that's rubbish, we were very happy with the way they played for us."

Although they have taken just one point from five games, McGrath remains positive that Bohemians can turn things around. But the injury problems - on which he blames much of the team's misfortune - persist, with Derek Swan, Tommy Byrne and Shaun Maher all highly doubtful for this weekend's televised game against Shamrock Rovers.

Swan, in particular, is causing considerable concern. He scored six goals in three matches just weeks ago, but is suffering from a suspected hairline fracture. The extent of the injury should be known this week.