‘We’ll be trying
GARY CRONIN has two winners medals for the First Division so he really may be the best man for the job as Bray Wanderers stumble through the last few steps of the Premier Division before striding into the second tier.
Cronin scooped gold as both a player and assistant manager in the First Division and with his side’s relegation now all but mathematically confirmed, a weight has been lifted from his shoulders and he can begin preparations for his team next season but just because their status is all but confirmed, it doesn’t mean he’ll accept below-par performances from his side.
“The start and really our first half overall has cost us the game”, assessed Cronin after Bray’s 0-2 loss. “We were off the pace, we had a couple of patches of good play in the first half but a lot of the times it was second balls. We were just awful (at) not picking them up. There was too much space between our units and the two goals were poor goals and that’s been (a problem) for the team for most of the season. That’s why we are where we are.
“There’s not much you can say in the dressing room afterwards, it’s that reality hits you in the face. For me and the group - bearing in mind most of them have been here all season - it’s not nice losing football matches all the time. The reality is; we are where we are but having said that - the club could be in a 10 times worse position.
“Two months ago, they were talking about the club maybe not existing. There’s a change of ownership and new people in and initiatives around the ground - all very positive. It was always looking towards next season and getting things right on the football side.”
With an embargo on signing players imposed by the FAI, Cronin’s hands have been tied ever since he took the reins but when the 2019 First Division rolls around, his imprint should be plastered all over Bray Wanderers.
“I’m really looking forward to that part of it. I’m disappointed and nobody likes to get relegated but the inevitable in many ways has happened. I’m very much looking forward to what we want to try and do over the next couple