Baraclough looks forward to the challenge

New Sligo Rovers manager Ian Baraclough met the media at a press conference earlier today ahead of his first game in charge on Friday and the former QPR and Scunthorpe player can’t wait to get started.

The 41-year old will take his side to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne on Friday night in his first game in charge and he revealed to ExtraTime.ie today that he doesn’t know a great deal about the league but he’s looking forward to getting started.

"I got a phone call on a late Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago to see if I was interested in the job,” Baraclough said today. “I was asked if I knew much about the club or the League of Ireland. I admitted I didn't know a great deal, I'd seen one or two games but looking into it more it was something that interested me and here we are, ten days later. It has been a quick turn around and I'm looking forward to it."

Baraclough stressed the importance of having a backroom staff who have a good knowledge of the league, perhaps due to his own lack of knowledge at present, and he confirmed that he has no plans of bringing his own in to the club: "I think it’s important that I go and work with people who've got knowledge of the club, people who've got knowledge of the League of Ireland and at this moment in time I've got no plans so I'm looking forward to getting to know the people here. They're good people and they've been very helpful already and I'm looking forward to working with the backroom team that are here."

After 20 seasons as a player and five years as a coach and manager, Baraclough will makes his first venture into a European competition in the summer when the Bit O’Red take part in the Europa League and looks forward to the challenge: "Yes, this would be my first time in a European competition,” Ian added.  “It’s a big challenge, something I'll be looking forward to. But there's a lot of time until then, so for now we'll concentrate on the league because I think it's the most important competition to build on and each year. They've come fourth, third, second so if we could go one better this year that would be a perfect start."

The former Scunthorpe boss also has no plans of changing the style of play the Sligo Rovers fans have become accustomed to: "I wouldn't have come here with intent to change everything. I like to play the game, that's what grass was invented for to play the ball on the floor. To pass the ball and keep the ball it takes plenty of hard work so there's no need to worry, hopefully the fans will enjoy the style of play.

“I like the full-backs to get forward, I want my midfield men to get on the ball, I like people to go and express themselves within the team and that's already in place here so that's half your job done.

"I want to improve and enhance on what has been put in place by Paul Cook, you know Paul's done a fantastic job here. He's had great success in the last few years so if I can improve on that or emulate what he has done then I'll be very, very pleased  but it's going to be a tough year ahead, I know that, but we'll be firing on all cylinders in all competitions and hopefully we can bring some silverware into the club."