Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MARTY AIMS TO STRIKE IT RICH
Former Armagh boss
MARTY RICE is back in the pressure cooker of management – and he couldn’t be happier.
The man who led Armagh City to league titles and a score of cup finals has returned to the game with Richhill AFC. He takes over with the Villagers wedged to the foot of the Intermediate A table, still searching for their first win of the campaign. Rice replaces Neil Rowntree in the Richhill hotseat, a man also well-versed in success having taken the club into the top flight.
This season they just can’t catch a break – even Rice’s first game in the dugout was hit by the weather on Saturday.
But he’s determined to bring the wins back to the Rec and admits it’s been straightforward feeling at home in his new surroundings. Rice told Match on Tuesday: “I had familiarity at Armagh for so long, as a player, then with the reserves and as first team manager for seven seasons.
“Not many people last that long at one club these days so it was real stability.
“My next role after Armagh was always going to feel different but Richhill feels very familiar already. “Five or six of the lads have already played under me which helps right from the start.
“I go back a long, long way with the chairman Neil Megaw so I’ve a great relationship with him.
“It just fell into place with Patsy [Neil Rowntree] resigning. Neil called and asked me to come down and help them out. “I was instantly very impressed by what I saw and heard and I’m delighted to be here.
“I enjoyed the break [after leaving Armagh] but I was really missing it. “I’ve loved being back in the game and I’m confident we can get this club winning again.”
Rowntree’s Richhill could count themselves unlucky on a number of occasions across the early stages of the campaign. They lost by the odd goal against Dollingstown, Crewe United, Moneyslane and Hanover.
In their last outing against Slane they were two goals in front before a late fightback cost them their first win. Rice, who has brought in John Mcdowell and Chris Chambers as his coaching team, was among the spectators for that one and he was impressed with what he saw.
He said: “Patsy was really successful in his time in charge here.
“He oversaw the amalgamation of Richhill and Broomhill and won the league at the same time.
“This season would have been difficult for him because he’s a winner.
“I had watched them in a couple of those cup finals they got to so I knew they had some really good players here. “He was unlucky to lose his keeper and a couple of others right at the start of this season and things just went against them.
“But I have no doubt the quality is there in the squad and they can start to climb the table.
“In Intermediate A, like with a lot of divisions, there are three or four at the top but there’s not a massive difference between the rest. Richhill have competed in most of the games they’ve played this season so they’re not a million miles away.
“I watched them against Moneyslane and they were going really well, 2-0 up before conceding those three goals.
“It’s a question of confidence really so we’ll look to work on that and try and get the winning habit again.
“If we can grind out a win it will definitely stand to them so that has to be the aim. Silverwood came up with them and are sitting mid-table so realistically that’s where Richhill could and should be too.”
Rice’s first game in charge of the Villagers is once again due to be in the Intermediate Cup this weekend.
Their opponents are a St
James Swifts side who have