Fenlon critical of fixture pile-up
Credit:
Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon admitted that his main focus for the season was the Airtricity Premier Division following his team’s 2-4 defeat against Shelbourne in the EA Sports Cup on Easter Monday.
Fenlon was critical of the fixture schedule which means that his team will play league games on consecutive Friday and Monday nights, while he also felt for the supporters.
“Our priority is we do okay in the league and to stay up the table. That's what we're going to concentrate on. We don't have the squad. We have to keep players fit for the league matches. Unfortunately for the supporters that's not right because they have to pay in to the matches and obviously people don't think about that and take things like that into account and they fix games with none of that in mind”
Fenlon doesn't understand the reasons for the heavy schedule of fixtures. “I don't know what it's all about, trying to cram all the games in. It's to the detriment of the game because like I said you ask people to come and pay in to see two reserve teams playing tonight.”
The Bohs manager also knows that the following run of games, which will include seven league matches next month, will test his injury depleted squad. “I think over the next month will give us a real test because of the squad we have and because of the games we have. It's going to be difficult. I think we maybe need to get Mark (Rossiter), Ollie (Cahill) and Glen (Cronin) playing again. They are some of our senior players. We need to get them fit and have them around to give us a chance to get through the matches. Ollie should be okay for Friday (against Derry City) but I'd say the other injured players have no chance of being involved.” revealed the former Shelbourne manager.
The Bohs boss is also hopeful that some of the younger members of his squad will learn from Monday night's experience at Tolka Park. “I would be critical of how we defended that's all. Some of the younger lads have got to learn. We switched off from set pieces. These are things we are hoping with a bit of experience that they can pick up on”, added Fenlon.
Fenlon was critical of the fixture schedule which means that his team will play league games on consecutive Friday and Monday nights, while he also felt for the supporters.
“Our priority is we do okay in the league and to stay up the table. That's what we're going to concentrate on. We don't have the squad. We have to keep players fit for the league matches. Unfortunately for the supporters that's not right because they have to pay in to the matches and obviously people don't think about that and take things like that into account and they fix games with none of that in mind”
Fenlon doesn't understand the reasons for the heavy schedule of fixtures. “I don't know what it's all about, trying to cram all the games in. It's to the detriment of the game because like I said you ask people to come and pay in to see two reserve teams playing tonight.”
The Bohs manager also knows that the following run of games, which will include seven league matches next month, will test his injury depleted squad. “I think over the next month will give us a real test because of the squad we have and because of the games we have. It's going to be difficult. I think we maybe need to get Mark (Rossiter), Ollie (Cahill) and Glen (Cronin) playing again. They are some of our senior players. We need to get them fit and have them around to give us a chance to get through the matches. Ollie should be okay for Friday (against Derry City) but I'd say the other injured players have no chance of being involved.” revealed the former Shelbourne manager.
The Bohs boss is also hopeful that some of the younger members of his squad will learn from Monday night's experience at Tolka Park. “I would be critical of how we defended that's all. Some of the younger lads have got to learn. We switched off from set pieces. These are things we are hoping with a bit of experience that they can pick up on”, added Fenlon.
