I’m desperate for star trio to stay, says Healy
But Linfield boss admits pursuit of league glory comes first
LINFIELD manager David Healy has outlined his hope that multiple title winners Jimmy Callacher, Andy Waterworth and Mark Haughey stay at Windsor Park but revealed that the chief focus at the club right now is retaining the Danske Bank Premiership crown.
Defenders Callacher and Haughey plus striker Waterworth have been offered new deals but with several other Irish League sides monitoring the situation they remain unsigned.
With Linfield moving to a fulltime model in June it is expected that another fan favourite, Mark Stafford, will leave Windsor at the end of the season and if the Blues were to lose Callacher and Haughey as well, they would have huge holes to fill at the back.
The same could be said in attack with Waterworth such an influential figure and the possibility that Player of the Year contender Shayne Lavery may land a move to England or Scotland.
Fresh from a vital 2-1 victory over Coleraine on Wednesday and invited to provide an update on the contract situation, Healy said: “We’re still waiting. Obviously, we want Jimmy (Callacher) to stay at the football club because he’s a big player for us.
“Again with Mark (Haughey) and Andy (Waterworth) we have offered contracts as we have the majority of players. It’s tough at the moment with the transition that’s going to happen and also trying to win a league title.
“The players, club and I are aware that first and foremost, whatever team we select, the focus is on winning the title.
“When you saw the players who played against Coleraine and haven’t signed yet, they are still showing huge commitment to the cause to win a league title.”
Today, Linfield, 12 points clear at the top, travel to fourth-placed Larne who have had the upper hand in recent encounters when the teams have met at Inver Park.
“Everybody has made a great deal out of our record against Larne at Inver Park,” said Healy.
“We lost a County Antrim Shield tie there earlier in the season when we lost a man after six minutes, which was beyond belief. The last time we played there in December I also think we were more than harshly treated with some of the decisions.
“Yes, we lost two games and we also lost convincingly the last time we went down there last season in the league.
“That was probably an eye opener because we were well beaten and Larne fully deserved their win. It was fully justified.
“But people can talk about records and whatever. I’m sure if you scan over the last 25 times Linfield have played Larne, I’m certain we have a good record.”
Healy will look for the type of performance from his side that saw them beat Larne 2-1 at Windsor in February thanks to a Lavery double.
“When we played at Windsor we were able to control them well,” he said. “There are different challenges at their ground. Also Larne are a good side with good players and they’re still in there fighting for the league title and European spots.”