‘We’re looking to get promoted straight away’
FOR the second time in his career, Dylan Barnett has become a Seagull but the sequel is vastly different to the original.
The Bray-bred man joined Brighton as a youngster but upon his return to Ireland, he signed for last season’s surprise package Waterford. But now he has committed to his hometown club and all it took was a few conversations with the brains behind the Bray rebirth to make the Carlisle Grounds his new home.
‘When I had a chat with Gaz (Gary Cronin) and heard what he had planned for the team and the upcoming season and I’d a chat with Niall (O’Driscioll) about the club and it was an easy decision then. They laid it all out for me and it’s close to home and I really like the sound of everything they’ve said so it was a no-brainer.
‘There was another offer on the table and I was chatting to a few other clubs but this is what I’ve decided and I’m happy to be here and I’m looking forward to the season.’
Barnett boasted team-mates like Bastien Hery and Izzy Akinade in 2018 but he is already pleased with the faces assembled in the Bray dressing room thus far and he predicts good things for them.
‘Really good. There’s a nice mix; you’ve the likes of Keego (Paul Keegan) with great experience and then we’ve some really good young lads coming through so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do on the first game of the season.
‘We’re looking to get promoted straight away. We’ll see how the start of the seasons goes and how it pans out but the aim of the club is definitely to get promoted this season.’
While enjoying football will always be his priority, the 22-year old admits the proximity to his home will have its advantages too.
‘I was over in Brighton for four years and I came home and then I went to Waterford so it’s been a while since my mam and dad and family can get to see me on a weekly basis so it’ll be good for them.’