MCFADDEN HAS GROUNDS FOR HOPE Newforge plans can help PSNI boss attract players needed to compete in a division full of quality teams

PSNI boss Sammy Mcfadden hailed the character of his squad after they produced two stunning comebacks away from home to maintain their Championship status.

On the final day of the regulation campaign, the South Belfast side were a goal down at Ballyclare and needed to win to avoid automatic relegation – with Limavady United set to overtake them.

However, three unanswered goals in the second half saw them go into a play-off against Annagh United and a convincing 4-1 victory in the first leg in Mid-ulster propelled them to safety.

“My message to the players during half-time of that Ballyclare game was simple – I asked them what level they wanted to play in next year and they responded,” Mcfadden told Match On Tuesday.

“As soon as we equalised at Dixon Park it was like all the pressure was alleviated from our shoulders and the players started playing with more confidence and freedom.

“You could see that players wanted 14.05.2019 the ball and they all looked a little sharper and then they took that on into the Annagh match.

“The players were outstanding to a man across those two away performances and it showed great character, but also that the players can do that when they want to.

“Staying in the Championship is such an important objective for the club on so many levels.

“When you look at the teams who are now competing in this division and the strength in depth – this is the level where clubs and players want to be playing.

“Newry, Ballinamallard, Ards and Portadown are just a selection of clubs who we will now be playing against next season, and it’s a world away from what it would be if you drop down a level.

“We know that if you drop down to the Premier Intermediate, without any disrespect to it whatsoever, then it becomes trickier for clubs to attract the calibre of players they want.”

The former Linfield Swifts manager only came into the Newforge hotseat in March when the club parted ways with Colin Malone. “The move came about mainly through [first team coach] Phil Lewis, who I knew from my days at Linfield,” added Mcfadden.

“Phil was the number two to John Bailie on the under-18s side at the Blues and we’d stayed in touch since, plus he knew I’d played for the club back in my playing days.

“Then I received a phone call from Phil who said that the role was available and that he thought that I would be a good fit.

“I already knew a lot of the people involved, those on the committee and the chairman, so as far as I was concerned it was the right move.

“This was maybe the push I needed to get back into this level of coaching here and after talking to the board I knew this was an exciting opportunity and I’m delighted I took it on.”

A number of key players have left the club over the last 18 months but Mcfadden, who also previously worked under Clifford Adams at Ballyclare, is hopeful this summer will be one of strengthening.

“Because of the nature of our club, recruitment can always be a little trickier,” he continued.

“But it is our responsibility to approach the players we feel can help the club and have a fantastic career here. We need to show them this is about football and nothing else.

“We cannot keep our heads in the sand over this but we have to be ambitious and there is no reason why we should not look to bring in players who other clubs can.

“This is a very good club to play for and there are a lot of great people behind the scenes, and with the £5million redevelopment of Newforge coming up it’s an exciting time.

“We need to look at keeping our star players too. Regions Cup player Dylan Wilson (below), who almost lost his finger in a lawnmower accident, was someone who produced a super performance in the play-offs.”

PSNI look set to be ground-sharing next season with newly-promoted QUB at The Dub due to the redevelopment of their nearby Newforge home.