Season Preview: Bray Wanderers
Credit:
After Cork City were denied a Premier Division licence, Bray Wanderers were once again welcomed back into the top flight and they should endure another difficult season.
The late promotion back to the top tier of the Airtricity League leaves Eddie Gormley's team with something of a disadvantage going into their opening game against Dundalk as all of their planning in pre-season had been geared towards competing in the First Division.
They won't be complaining too much, though, as Bray are a club with a proud history and have spent a number of seasons in the top flight before this year.
Gormley has been operating on a strict budget and has seen the likes of Chris O'Connor going to Bohemians, but he has added a number of players to his squad, which means that there will still be plenty of competition for places at the Carlisle Grounds.
Since becoming manager of the Wicklow outfit in September 2006, Gormley has developed a knack of getting his players to punch above their weight. The undoubted work ethic and application from both players and management served them extremely well in his first couple of years in charge, when they managed to fight off the threat of relegation with a few games to spare.
Last season was a struggle for them all through though, and they finished bottom in the table with 28 points, four points adrift of the nearest team, Drogheda United. Normally, this would have been enough to see them automatically relegated to the First Division, but Derry City's problems saw them ending up in a play-off with Sporting Fingal, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
For Bray to survive this season, they will be looking to pick up points against the teams in and around them. Their first two games against Dundalk and Galway United are ones that they are capable of getting points from, and a good start to the league could shape their season.
However, given that they are quite thin in midfield at the moment, they will probably fall just short. Unless Gormley can work his magic and sign some experienced players.
Team: Bray Wanderers
Manager: Eddie Gormley
Players In: Dean Barrett (Cherry Orchard), Karl Donnelly (Pegasus), Daniel Ennis (Bohemians), Andrei Georgescu (Athlone Town), James Kavanagh (Belvedere FC), Lloyd Massey (Shamrock Rovers), Adam O'Connor (Wolfe Tone Celtic), David Tyrrell (Free Agent).
Players Out: Chris O'Connor (Bohemians), Derek Foran, Gary McCabe (both Sligo Rovers), Chris Deans (Longford Town), Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Paul Byrne (all St. Patrick's Athletic), John Mulroy, Stephen Brennan, Gary Cronin (all released).
One To Watch: Jake Kelly
Prediction: 10th
The late promotion back to the top tier of the Airtricity League leaves Eddie Gormley's team with something of a disadvantage going into their opening game against Dundalk as all of their planning in pre-season had been geared towards competing in the First Division.
They won't be complaining too much, though, as Bray are a club with a proud history and have spent a number of seasons in the top flight before this year.
Gormley has been operating on a strict budget and has seen the likes of Chris O'Connor going to Bohemians, but he has added a number of players to his squad, which means that there will still be plenty of competition for places at the Carlisle Grounds.
Since becoming manager of the Wicklow outfit in September 2006, Gormley has developed a knack of getting his players to punch above their weight. The undoubted work ethic and application from both players and management served them extremely well in his first couple of years in charge, when they managed to fight off the threat of relegation with a few games to spare.
Last season was a struggle for them all through though, and they finished bottom in the table with 28 points, four points adrift of the nearest team, Drogheda United. Normally, this would have been enough to see them automatically relegated to the First Division, but Derry City's problems saw them ending up in a play-off with Sporting Fingal, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
For Bray to survive this season, they will be looking to pick up points against the teams in and around them. Their first two games against Dundalk and Galway United are ones that they are capable of getting points from, and a good start to the league could shape their season.
However, given that they are quite thin in midfield at the moment, they will probably fall just short. Unless Gormley can work his magic and sign some experienced players.
Team: Bray Wanderers
Manager: Eddie Gormley
Players In: Dean Barrett (Cherry Orchard), Karl Donnelly (Pegasus), Daniel Ennis (Bohemians), Andrei Georgescu (Athlone Town), James Kavanagh (Belvedere FC), Lloyd Massey (Shamrock Rovers), Adam O'Connor (Wolfe Tone Celtic), David Tyrrell (Free Agent).
Players Out: Chris O'Connor (Bohemians), Derek Foran, Gary McCabe (both Sligo Rovers), Chris Deans (Longford Town), Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Paul Byrne (all St. Patrick's Athletic), John Mulroy, Stephen Brennan, Gary Cronin (all released).
One To Watch: Jake Kelly
Prediction: 10th
About Daire Walsh
Daire Walsh began reporting for Extratime in 2009, when he covered Kildare County's games in the League Of Ireland First Division. He currently reports on games involving the league's Dublin sides and also Bray Wanderers. … View Full Profile