COSTELLO RELISHING ‘NOTTS’ CHALLENGE

NOW in his second year as Nottingham head coach, Ian Costello believes that the club is making steady progress.

Currently sitting fourth in the Championship, the club are very realistic about their ambitions for the season ahead as they continue to learn from past mistakes.

Nottingham’s ultimate goal is to win promotion to the Premiership and while they are a way off that target yet, they are going in the right direction.

“This is the most exciting part of my career in that you have a vision and you have plan,” Costello maintained.

“You know it’s not going to come to fruition in one season and whether it’s two years, three years or more than that remains to seen. But to see things that you put in place, both on and off the pitch, evolve and develop – it’s certainly been one of the most exciting parts. It’s miles from being finished, it’s constantly evolving.”

Costello will lead his side against Munster ‘A’ in Irish Independent Park tomorrow but the majority of their focus is on the Championship.

“The club outlined from day one that it would be a four- to five-year project for them to make it to the Premiership,” he added. “My understanding is that the club previously had external investment but they pulled out mid-season and I think it rocked the club quite considerably in that they had to fight really hard to survive.

“So they’ve made a very smart, pragmatic decision to cut their cloth to measure and looked at a more sustained model over four to five years. Our target is to consistently be top half and pitching towards top four (of the Championship).”