Mathews aiming for top-half finish
Credit:
Alan Mathews has set his sights on guiding Drogheda United to a top-half finish in the Premier Division this season.
The club narrowly avoided relegation last year, but ultimately achieved their goal of remaining in the top flight. However, this season the hope is that they can post a higher finishing position.
The 45-year-old certainly defied the odds last term by keeping The Boynesiders up, but he is hoping to stay away from the foot of the table in 2010.
"Our expectation last season was to stay in the league, that was our goal," said Mathews.
"Our goal for this season is to get a better squad and finish in a significantly better position than we did last season and get into the other half of the table."
This time last year Mathews wasn't even at the club as he only turned up at United Park two weeks before the season kicked off. But he is in a different situation now as his squad have already enjoyed a few training sessions.
That added time has allowed him to explore new options and assess what positions he needs to strengthen, which is exactly what he used the recent pre-season friendly game against Shelbourne for.
"We didn't start until the middle of Febuary last season and now we have had a couple of weeks training and that's what you have to do," he said.
"I was just looking for fitness [in the game against Shelbourne], that's all. At this stage of the year it's just about match fitness. That's our first game out of the way and next week we will go and play two games.
"The players worked hard and that's what it's all about. It's all part of your pre-season preparation.
"To that end hopefully we didn't pick up a few knocks and bruises. With the exception of one or two we can go back to training again next week."
The introduction of striker Glen Fitzpatrick was greeted with cheers by the Drogheda faithful during the clash and he proved to be a handful for the visiting defence, which thrilled Mathews, who is still on the look-out for potential new signings.
The former Cork City boss has revealed that he will travel over to Scotland in a search to recruit a goalkeeper and another striker with loan deals being a possibility.
"I hope the fans appreciate him [Fitzpatrick], I hope the new players that come will gel with the group that are here and we can look to have a good season," he said.
"I was due to go [over to Scotland] last week, but I am heading over next week. The transfer window in Scotland has closed and I have a few options open for me to go and talk to a couple of managers with a view to loaning some players. So I will probably exercise that option between now and the start of the season."
The club narrowly avoided relegation last year, but ultimately achieved their goal of remaining in the top flight. However, this season the hope is that they can post a higher finishing position.
The 45-year-old certainly defied the odds last term by keeping The Boynesiders up, but he is hoping to stay away from the foot of the table in 2010.
"Our expectation last season was to stay in the league, that was our goal," said Mathews.
"Our goal for this season is to get a better squad and finish in a significantly better position than we did last season and get into the other half of the table."
This time last year Mathews wasn't even at the club as he only turned up at United Park two weeks before the season kicked off. But he is in a different situation now as his squad have already enjoyed a few training sessions.
That added time has allowed him to explore new options and assess what positions he needs to strengthen, which is exactly what he used the recent pre-season friendly game against Shelbourne for.
"We didn't start until the middle of Febuary last season and now we have had a couple of weeks training and that's what you have to do," he said.
"I was just looking for fitness [in the game against Shelbourne], that's all. At this stage of the year it's just about match fitness. That's our first game out of the way and next week we will go and play two games.
"The players worked hard and that's what it's all about. It's all part of your pre-season preparation.
"To that end hopefully we didn't pick up a few knocks and bruises. With the exception of one or two we can go back to training again next week."
The introduction of striker Glen Fitzpatrick was greeted with cheers by the Drogheda faithful during the clash and he proved to be a handful for the visiting defence, which thrilled Mathews, who is still on the look-out for potential new signings.
The former Cork City boss has revealed that he will travel over to Scotland in a search to recruit a goalkeeper and another striker with loan deals being a possibility.
"I hope the fans appreciate him [Fitzpatrick], I hope the new players that come will gel with the group that are here and we can look to have a good season," he said.
"I was due to go [over to Scotland] last week, but I am heading over next week. The transfer window in Scotland has closed and I have a few options open for me to go and talk to a couple of managers with a view to loaning some players. So I will probably exercise that option between now and the start of the season."
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night. View Full Profile