Blues taking right road to full-time switch: Jeffrey
DAVID Jeffrey has praised his former club Linfield for going all in on full-time football, insisting they have shown wisdom to realise that name and reputation alone won’t cut it in modern day Irish League football.
As part of Linfield’s recently published five-year strategy until 2025, a key element is to “identify and transition to a sustainable full-time playing model with the requisite supporting infrastructure” as part of the club’s plan to maintain their position as the top side in Northern Ireland and to progress in Europe.
Jeffrey is now, of course, boss of Ballymena United, who host league leaders Linfield tonight, but is still best known for his incredibly successful 17 years in charge at Windsor Park when the Blues won 31 trophies.
During his reign, the club took tentative steps towards going full-time but Jeffrey feels whatthechampionsaredoing now is the right thing to do and that they are going about it in the right way.
“There was a time when at Linfield we experimented with going full-time but, while some of the players were full-time, we didn’t have full-time staff and invariably it didn’t give the difference that we wanted,” recalled Jeffrey.
“We wanted to go full-time so we could progress in Europe because during that time we won six doubles in seven years, so we were pretty dominant, and it wasn’t going full-time that kept that up.
“The biggest thing was we didn’t really have the infrastructure.
“What is most impressive now isthatit’snotjustabouttheplayers going full-time, it’s all the support mechanisms that allow thattohappen,whetherit’sthe coaching staff, the kit manager or other ancillary staff, so it’s mightily impressive.
“I think what Linfield have done is look at what’s happening at Larne and Glentoran and, with Linfield’s history and heritage, theydon’twanttobeleftbehind.
“They will have looked at Crusaders also, and there has been enough insight and wisdom to know that your name and reputation and because you are Linfield just doesn’t do it for you and that you need all those things in place.
“Thefactthatthereissucha comprehensive support network is good and I can only praise Linfield and others because ultimately it ups the standard of football in the Irish League.”
Ballymena enter tonight’s game in seventh place and unbeateninsevenmatches,while Linfield, eight points clear of second placed Coleraine, will travel to the Showgrounds on the back of five wins in a row, including Friday’s 2-1 victory at Crusaders.
“Linfield were very impressive against Crusaders after going a goal down. They didn’t panic and were very measured and showed the class they have,” said Jeffrey.
“Inthesecondhalf,theywent through the gears and brilliance from Joel Cooper got them back in the game, and their winner was all about opportunism and a very sharp brain from Shayne Lavery. I know Linfield will be coming to our place to win the game,andforusitisamassive challenge, but we will be aiming to get something out of the match.”
While this season is all about winning the title for David Healy’s side, what are Jeffrey’s aspirations for Ballymena?
“Sixth if we can, or get ourselves in a position to have a crack at Europe. That’s the baseline,” he says.
“We know that the landscape of football has changed here but weneedtohangontothecoat tails and not be left behind. For me, the developments have only been positive, whether it is the investment at Larne or Glentoran, what Linfield are doing going forward, what Crusaders have done.
“We are saying to the players we have to try and build our resources the way Crusaders have done by qualifying for Europe.
“In order to give us an opportunity to do that, we have to try and crack the top six, which will be really tough, but we are seven games unbeaten so we are on a good run at present.”
‘Itupsthe standard of football in the Irish League’