New Limerick FC boss looking forward to new challenge

NEW LIMERICK FC manager Stuart Taylor has said that the passion and ambition of the club was the key factor in his decision to take the job.

The 38-year-old Scottish native was officialy unveiled at a press briefing in the Limerick Strand Hotel on Friday morning and has got to work immediately ahead of the Airtricity Premier Division, which begins in early March.

Taylor had his first session with the side on Saturday morning but said it was his meeting with club chairman Pat O’Sullivan and General Manager Kieran Judge that convinced him to take the role. Taylor met the club officials in Manchester after they had advertised the position through the European League Managers’ Association

“After speaking with Kieran and Pat there was only one decision in my mind and that was to come here. You can see and hear the passion, hunger and desire from them. The ambition they have here was a massive part for me in coming to sign for the football club.

“I’ve got my philosophies as to how I want to go about my work. It’s been successful in the past in working with youth players and bringing them into a first team environment. I also want to work with the experienced players at the club and to get the best out of the experienced players.

“I like the passion in Irish players. I like the mentality; I think it’s very much the same as the Scottish. They’ve got a good attitude and they just want to work hard and improve themselves. When you’ve got that you can always progress players individually and collectively.

“I want a team on the park that’s going to be working hard and showing the right type of attitude, enthusiasm, hunger, desire and passion. I want a team the supporters will be proud of.”

Taylor said that he has spoken briefly with David O’Leary and Shane Tracy, both of whom travelled to Oslo during the week with the Ireland squad for the FIFPRO tournament.

He also confirmed that highly-rated youngster Rory Gaffney has signed a new contract with the club.

Pat O’Sullivan spoke highly of Taylor, who had a long playing career in Scotland before becoming a respected coach at Hamilton Academical and later in Qatar.

“He will get absolute 100% support from us, said O’Sullivan. “I am of the belief that you can’t give people the job of managing without making them responsible and accountable, but you must always give them the authority to do it.

“He will get that here in this club and as you know we’re very passionate about our football and we also have great respect for people when we give them a job.

“You have to give them freedom to do the job; otherwise they’re going around with one hand tied behind their back”

“It’s a full-time job for him and it’s a job where he will have total responsibility for all football within the club.”