I’ll prove that I belong at the top level, says under-fire Oran
ORAN Kearney has opened up about life as boss of Scottish Premiership strugglers St Mirren, insisting he has no regrets about taking the job and outlining his determination to keep them in the top flight alongside the likes of Celtic and Rangers.
Kearney admits since leaving the Coleraine hotseat in September it has been a tough baptism of fire in full-time football, but he has relished the experience, declaring it has made him a better manager.
St Mirren were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Championship outfit Dundee United at the weekend and currently sit bottom of the league table with many predicting they are doomed to relegation.
The Buddies have only won three Premiership games so far this season but Kearney, who inspired the Bannsiders to Irish Cup glory last season, is refusing to give up hope.
“I’m still ultra-positive and believe we can stay in the Scottish Premiership,” said Kearney (left).
“I will be giving my all to try and make that happen as will the players and if we are successful it will be a great achievement for the club,” he added.
“When I was offered the job I wanted to prove to myself I could cope in the fulltime environment and I believe I’m doing that.
“Of course it has been tough and it is a huge challenge but I have no regrets, none at all, about coming to St Mirren.
“The fans have been great, so too the players and people at the club and now we want to finish the season really strongly and stay up.”
ORAN Kearney was the king of Coleraine. He had inspired the Bannsiders to Irish Cup glory the previous season, one week on from losing out to Crusaders in a gripping title race.
Coleraine looked good for another tilt at the Premiership after a 3-0 victory at Seaview in September that took them to the top of the table.
That same night, Alan Stubbs left the manager’s position at St Mirren after what seemed just five minutes in charge. Kearney had gone through the same interview process as Stubbs in the summer, with the Buddies opting for the ex-Celtic defender and his experience of Scottish football.
St Mirren were impressed by Kearney (right), however, and, with Stubbs gone, offered the 40-year-old teacher a shot at fulltime football.
It was an opportunity not to be missed despite St Mirren having the lowest budget in the division — even some Championship clubs in Scotland have more to spend — and a group of players who appeared disillusioned under Stubbs.
It was like entering the lion’s den for Kearney, with the Paisley outfit favourites to go down. Five months into the former Linfield star’s reign, that remains the case, but the Buddies boss is more determined than ever to keep them up.
They are bottom of the table and three points adrift of Dundee, having won three league games all season. Last weekend they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Championship side Dundee United. Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aberdeen, the feeling among most in Scotland is that St Mirren have little chance of surviving relegation.
Kearney sees things differently.
“I’m still ultra-positive and believe we can stay in the Scottish Premiership,” he said.
“I will be giving my all to try and make that happen, as will the players, and if we are successful it will be a great achievement for the club.
“We could do with a result away to Aberdeen or in our next game against Hearts. That could be the turning point we need. Nobody here is giving up.”
Kearney is honest enough to admit that entering fulltime management has been a major challenge, pointing out that it has helped make him a better boss.
“When I was offered the job I wanted to prove to myself I could cope in the fulltime environment and I believe I’m doing that,” he stated.
“Of course it has been tough and it is a huge challenge, but I have no regrets, none at all, about coming to St Mirren. I’ve loved it.
“The fans have been great, so too the players and people at the club and now we want to finish the season really strongly.
“To get this opportunity has been great and I believe I am now a better manager.
“I remember when Coleraine lost our first Irish Cup final and I said to young players like Brad Lyons and Lyndon Kane that the experience would be worth 50 league appearances because of the magnitude of the game, the stress and the experience and everything that came with it.
“For me, this is the same. I’ve had to deal with a lot over the last five months in relation to players and other issues and it has been a great learning experience for me.”
Kearney, who worked tirelessly in the January transfer window to recruit new players and ship others out, has relished going toe-to-toe with Celtic and Rangers counterparts Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard.
“To be lining up against these guys and leading your team out against their teams is fantastic but I’m not in awe of them,” he said.
“The buzz of the games like Rangers away and Celtic away is incredible. When you consider the scale of the other clubs, we are underdogs in this league. I don’t feel out of place though, when we are facing them, and that is important. I’m comfortable in the surroundings.”