Ian Ryan: 'We want to do some damage in the play-offs'

Bray Wanderers head coach Ian Ryan

Bray Wanderers head coach Ian Ryan Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)

Bray Wanderers head coach Ian Ryan knows the importance of the Seagulls staying on course during their rebuild – but hopes his side can achieve their aims sooner than expected.

Wanderers ended the 2022 campaign on 27 points after 32 games played – and they are just two points off that total already after 19 league outings in 2023.

Crowds have also started to swell again at the Carlisle Grounds with an average of 814 supporters attending home fixtures, which is up 36% from last year’s average of 598.

But crucially, Bray are in contention for a play-off berth this season.

“We’re satisfied with where we are in the playoffs,” Ryan told extratime.com. “We’ve been there all year and we’re there on merit.

“We are there after coming through our bad and injury patch. And if we are going to peak, the right time to do so is in the second half of the season.

“We have made good strides but I think there is more to come. Hopefully we can see that in the second half of the season.”

Aside from Galway United, the Seagulls are the only side in the First Division to have taken points off every team – but they have been hamstrung by a number of draws.

Those stalemates have seen them return from the mid-season break in fifth, but they have been one of the few sides to maintain their position all season.



“We are the only team to take points off everyone – aside from Galway,” Ryan added.

“That is good for us and what that shows is that we can compete with anyone on our day.

“As good as Galway and Waterford are, we can compete with them and we have shown that. But for us it is about consistency.

“We have drawn the most games so if we get on the right side of them during the second half of the year that will be a big benefit to us.”

While there have been draws, players such as Cole Omorehiomwan, Ben Feeney, Len O’Sullivan and Max Murphy have established themselves as first-team regulars.

And for Ryan the emergence of those young talents have been a genuine source of optimism as the Seagulls look to build sustainably..



“It’s important to have young players coming through,” he explained. “We are giving opportunities to them.

“If you take Dave Webster, Dane Massey and Chris Lyons out of the team, I think most of the players are under 23.

“They have potential to become even better but what comes with that is inconsistency and mistakes.

“For them individually, it is about learning, getting better and playing more consistently. When that happens we will be a better as a group.”

And while there is potential for the Seagulls to soar, Ryan is keen for his side to achieve their aims as soon as possible.

Tipped by many to seal a play-off position this season, Ryan was relaxed about his task for the season before it began in February.

But he admits he has always had a drive to accelerate the Seagulls’ ascent if possible - despite the obvious quality of Waterford and Galway United in the top-two.

“We take stock of building the club and being able to compete as a club in the long-term, but there is a personal drive and ambition from myself, the staff and the players to do things as quickly as we can,” Ryan said.

“We want to be in the play-offs and we want to do it this year. And we don’t just want to be there, we want to do some damage in the play-offs.

“There is a combination of doing things sustainably and in a long-term way, but once you come and compete – doing the amount of work of we do, we want to play in the bigger games, get into the play-offs and a play-off final if we can.

“But we have to be realistic as well of the growth and strides we have made so far.

“We’re never satisfied as in we will always want more no matter where we are.”

Hit with an injury crisis in the midst of a difficult run during April and May – Bray have all but one of their players back from injury for the second half of the campaign.

And while that may ease the pressure on Ryan to delve into the transfer market, he admits he is looking to bring ‘two or three’ new faces in when the window opens on July 1st.

“We probably will (be looking to do business), but not much,” the former Wexford boss added. “If we can bring in two or three players, we would be delighted with that.

“We won’t be doing it for the sake of it. If we can bring players in they have to add to the group and XI if anything.

“If we can do that it will be great, but if not I am more than happy to run with the group that we have.”

On Friday night, Bray are set to welcome Kerry to the Carlisle Grounds.

And if they win, that would set them up nicely for the weeks ahead with an FAI Cup campaign to begin and a play-off position to solidify.

 “If you can go on a run, you can climb the table pretty quickly,” Ryan added.

“We’ve always been where we want to be but I don’t think we have hit a run where we have won consecutive games.

“We started really well and then we hit a bad bit of form and a bit of an injury crisis. Hopefully that is our blip out of the way so we can compete.”

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