UP THE ANTE
Reynolds throws down challenge as he takes Bohs reins
NEW Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds says he couldn’t turn down the chance to work for a ‘massive club with huge potential’.
And the 49-year-old is relishing the chance to sink his teeth into the job with a Dublin derby away to fierce rivals Shamrock
Rovers on Friday.
But Reynolds has warned his players they will have to ‘up the ante’ under his watch if Bohs are to become a real force again.
“We cannot leave any stone unturned to get this club to where we want it to be, so that means upping the ante in everything we do,” he said.
Reynolds has left Waterford FC where he was assistant to former Gypsies boss Keith Long, having been Derry City’s No 2 before that.
He has also stepped down from his role as assistant to Ireland Under-21 boss Jim Crawford, having parted ways after last Friday’s 7-0 demolition of San Marino.
Reynolds succeeds Declan Devine (inset) at Dalymount Park, who left after only four league games this season and having led Bohs to last season’s FAI Cup final.
Reynolds will take training for the first time today but said yesterday: “This is a massive club with a passionate fan base.
“It’s a massive challenge but it is the right one for me and at the right time. Straight away when contact was made, I was very interested.
“Over the past few years, I’ve had different opportunities to get back into management but this is the one that feels right. There is huge potential here.
“When Bohs teams give the fans something to cheer about, this club’s supporters are electric, and make it a real hostile atmosphere for opponents both home and away.”
Reynolds faces a baptism of fire in Friday’s televised clash with the Hoops in Tallaght, where the crowd could be over 10,000.
“When you talk about football, Dublin derbies are what you call a ‘real game’. In this league, they are the games you want to be involved in,” he said in a statement.
“I’m really looking forward to it. There will be a massive crowd but we will have a big crowd behind us too. We will need them to stick with us as I have no doubt they will.”
The new manager is excited by the potential of the squad and said: “There’s a good mixture of youth and experience.
“To work with some of the talented young players at the club – the likes of James Mcmanus and James Clarke – is a really exciting prospect for any manager.
“They excite fans and they excite managers, so it is up to me to get in there and improve them further.”
NEIL MCLEMAN
NICOLO ZANIOLO rates Unai Emery among Europe’s top coaches – but still wants to return home to Serie A this summer.
The Italy star was full of praise for the Aston Villa boss, declaring: “I put him on the same level as Guardiola, Klopp and Mourinho.”
Zaniolo joined Villa on a €3.5million loan this season from Galatasaray but has only scored three goals in 31 appearances, including the equaliser at West Ham in his last Premier League game.
Zaniolo (right), 24, admits he is missing home.
“I miss Italy a lot,” he said. “Friends, family, my son. It’s up to the clubs to define my future.
“People talk about Milan. I asked my agent to let me know only if and when there is something concrete. Now I concentrate on Aston Villa.”