Get back into the right mindset and our class will show, insists Gray
really looking forward to working with him from training next week.Hopefully it’s a new successfuleraforthe club.
“Asateam we just have to keep the ball rolling and move forward. The boys wantto push for silverware so in that sense nothing changes. We know Rodney isagreat man manageranda gentleman. When he comes in we will hopefully resume business as usual.
“I don’t know Rodney but fromtheboysIspoketoat Dungannon they speak very highly about him and I haven’t heard a bad word said. He has similar traits to Oran and we plan to keep competing for trophies.”
The Swifts have now begun theirownsearchforanew managerandthetimingis certainly not perfect with the club second from bottom and still searching for their first victory. The club stated: “We would like to take the opportunity to thank Rodney McAree for his years of loyal service to Dungannon Swifts as a player, coachandheadcoach.Rodney has been appointed the new manager at Coleraine Football Club.
“As quoted in one of the newspapers this week, and many people will agree, Rodney McAree to Dungannon Swifts is like what fish is to chips. Sadly that bond has now been broken and Rodney has felt the time is right for him to face a new challenge and move on in his football career. As a club we have to understand and accept this decision.” CLIFTONVILLE manager Barry Gray has told his players that their quality will shine through at Warrenpoint Town today if they enter the match with the right attitude.
The straight-talking Reds boss also insists that winning matches beats playing entertaining football every time.
Cliftonville fans love to see their team play in a stylish manner but as Gray points out, that doesn’t always translate to victories.
“Of course you want to be renowned as a team for playing good football but more than that you want to win matches,” said Gray, whose side have won two, lost two and drawn two of their opening six league fixtures.
“Look at the teams who have been successful in the past few years in the Irish League. Winning has always come first for them.
“You can go into management thinking you’ll play the sexiest football but you have to find a balance and at the end of the day you are appointed and employed for performances and earning wins.”
Gray thinks if Cliftonville perform to their capabilities they should get one at Warrenpoint Town, who are bottom of the table having suffered six league losses in a row.
It was Gray who inspired Town into the top flight during a hugely impressive spell there as boss, but he can have little sympathy for his old team this after- noon. After losing their last away game, 1-0 to Newry City, Gray is demanding total focus from his team.
“Newry was a really bad day for us a couple of weeks ago and going to Warrenpoint is a bit like that game,” said Gray.
“If our boys roll in there thinking that we have good players and all we need to do is show up then it will be a long day.
“I’m not saying the players rolled in on purpose feeling that way but top of the table clashes are easy to motivate yourself for and we can’t lose that when you are playing the so-called lower ranked teams.
“I think that we have learned that lesson with the defeat to Newry.
“You could say this is a really good time to get Warrenpoint because they are low in confidence butthentheflipsideisyouknow at some point they are going to catch somebody and get a win or draw.
“I’d be confident though that if we do what we need to do, our quality should shine through.”