You took over as Glenavon manager in November with the club sitting in 11th place and in the relegation playoff position.
As we speak now – in mid February – you are in 9th place and 11 points clear of 11th place.
What do you put the improvement of fortunes under your management down to?
“It is simply down to hard work. That’s all we’ve done from the players, to the staff and everybody involved at the club – they’ve all played their part. There’s been a lot of hard graft behind the scenes, and now the players and the club are reaping the rewards.
“But there’s still a long way to go. We’ve only just started. We’re at the very beginning of this journey.
“We’re only six or seven weeks into it, so it’s all about what we’re doing now. We’ve got to keep pushing forward and build on this for the future. Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be aiming to pick up as many points as possible.
“The goal is to finish as high up the table as we possibly can. Everyone has been working their socks off, and we have to keep that momentum going.”
You recently spoke about the facilities at the club and how you were pleasantly surprised by them upon your arrival. How key are strong facilities to the work of a manager?
“Solid facilities are vital. That is much easier for full time clubs as they have bigger budgets and can allocate money to improving their infrastructure.
“We are a part time team but I have to say, our facilities are fantastic and I was very pleased by them when I arrived.
“We have our own training pitch which is an artificial surface and we have upped our training programme from twice a week to three times per week.
“We also have an analyst in Damien McAuley who enhances the preparation for each game that myself and the staff deliver to the players.
“On a match day, we play on a grass pitch at Mourneview which is of a high standard. That is very important for how we want to play.
“It is a great place to work and for players to come and play.”
Given the results you’ve had so far, you’re competing against and defeating teams with significantly larger budgets—sides that, at the start of the season, were expected to challenge for major trophies.
Does that underdog spirit within the squad give the players the belief that, on their day, they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league?
“Absolutely, we strive to compete with any team in the league. We have to believe in what we can do to hurt the opposition not only with how we play but how we prepare for each game with hard work and intensity.
“When you have that mindset, you truly believe you can take on anyone. We don’t fear any opponent. Regardless of who we face each week, the players embrace the challenge head-on.
“Belief and confidence are absolutely crucial. We may be one of the lowest-ranked teams in the league in terms of status and resources, but that doesn’t faze us. Week after week, the squad rises to the occasion, maintaining that competitive edge.
“Every player gives everything they’ve got. Each department works tirelessly, and everyone is exceptional at what they do. Staying tight-knit as a group will be vital as we push through to the end of the season—you never know where that unity and determination might take us.”
I wanted to ask you about the staff that you brought in when you were appointed in Colin Coates and Marty McCann.
What have they added to the club and how do they complement you as a manager?
“With Colin, I always say that he was one of the closest teammates I had when I was a player. He’s got a brilliant football brain, he knows the league inside out, and obviously, he had an unbelievable playing career himself.
“Bringing him to Glenavon was part of the package.
“Then, with Marty, we have worked together for a number of years and I would trust him with my life. He has a great football brain and he is a big part of what I do.
“The first thing I told the club when we spoke was that there was only one condition—I was bringing those two boys with me. They have great knowledge of the game and they are strong leaders have a lot of knowledge.
“All of the staff at the club have been crucial in everything we’ve done so far.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, is the focus simply on maintaining momentum and seeing where it takes you?
Do you have specific targets in mind, or is it more a case of embracing the classic ‘one game at a time’ approach and letting the results dictate your journey?
“I think you have to take it one game at a time because you can never get ahead of yourself in this game particularly in the Irish League.
“That being said, we were expected to come in and be involved in a relegation battle, but now, why not set our sights higher while making sure that we are always looking over our shoulder too because we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted.
“My challenge to the players is to finish as high up the table as we possibly can. I am not putting a ceiling on that. We have the belief, the work ethic, and the momentum—so there’s no reason we can’t keep driving forward and see just how far we can go.”
Featured image: Glenavon FC Media
Callum McFadden 