Linfield’s profile is set to soar, insists Fenlon
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The Blues have already swept aside HB Torshavn and FK Sutjeska in a European run which has seen them win back-to-back ties for the first time since 1966, and four consecutive games for the first time in the club’s history.
The Azerbaijan champions came to Windsor Park with a big reputation but tenacious little terrier Shayne Lavery seized the opportunity to grab the spotlight.
His two impressive finishes, the second a brilliant individual effort, had the Blues faithful in fine voice, though Magaye Gueye’s injury-time penalty was a real sting in the tail.
“It’s making history for the club in terms of wins in European football,” added 50-year-old Dubliner Fenlon.
“You are normally coming up against stronger opposition every time so everyone deserves huge credit for going on this superb run.
“It’s difficult to win games in Europe, never mind four in a row. It’s a phenomenal achievement.
“We have got very good players and a very good squad. The lads are strong and there’s good young, promising talent there. David also has good cover in key positions.
“When you go into games like this you just want to still be in the tie going into the second leg and that’s what we’ve done against really good opposition.
“I was fortunate to cover both of Qarabag’s games against Dundalk for television down south and they were very good in both games. So we’ve kept the tie alive, which was our goal, and coming out with the victory gives us all great hope and belief for the away leg.”
The pot of gold at the end of the Europa League rainbow for Linfield is worth around £4m, but Fenlon, who sees his job as raising the club’s profile, isn’t seeing dollar signs.
“I don’t think this is about finances, it’s about raising the profile of the club and that has been my job since I’ve come here,” added Fenlon (below), whose European highlights include a stunning 2-0 win for Shels over Hajduk Split at Tolka Park. “By winning football matches at this level it certainly lifts the profile and it should only be about that. The money from group stage action is welcome but from being in a dressing room myself I know what these performances mean to the players and the pride they feel at helping the club make history. It shows what can be achieved through hard work.
“We’ve got a plan to go fulltime and that was always going to remain in place whatever happened with our European campaign.
“We will plan it properly and see it out. There’s a strategic plan in place and it has to be right for the club in the long term.
“There was doom and gloom when we found out about our lost European place but all the clubs performed really well this summer and that’s a big help to the Uefa co-efficient.
“It’s great for the Irish League as a whole and I love being part of this club, I’m busy but it’s a great football club to work for. I’m committed to seeing it move forward.”