Sligo Rovers manager Owen Heary has targeted long-term success with Bit O’ Red after a difficult start to life in The Showgrounds.
Heary oversaw a first home league win of the season last Saturday and sat down with RTÉ Sport in the aftermath of the 2-0 win over Drogheda United.
He said: “We are not in the position we wanted to be or expected to be this season. But we have gone through it and looked at it and said there is only three players still here since they won the league in 2012. That is five managers that have come through and 60 plus players that have come over the last three years.
“It is about trying to build a team and foundations that we will have over the next couple of seasons and that is with younger players so that is why we are giving them a chance.
“[A home win] has been a long time coming. We probably have deserved to win games here the last couple of weeks but we probably haven’t got them. I’m delighted for the lads.”
Heary had been under increasing pressure after just one victory in 12 matches prior to last Saturday.
Asked whether it was difficult to cope with that in a new environment, he stated: “I don’t mind it to be honest. If people are looking at me then they take the pressure off the players. I have no problem with that.
“If people want to put pressure on me that is fine, as long as there is no pressure on the players when they are going out and playing.”
Heary’s former club Bohemians have been the surprise story of the season so far and sit 13 points clear of Sligo as things stand, leaving them adrift out of the top five in the table.
European football looks out of reach already through the league, but winning the battle in the bottom half of the table and a prolonged run in the FAI Cup is now the goal for the 38-year-old's side.
He concluded: “We want to be on top of the bottom pile. Obviously you will have Pat’s, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Cork pushing away at the top. Bohs have done quite well. You look at Bohs, they had a settled team over the last couple of years as well and that is why they will keep developing players and keep pushing on and that is what we want to do at Sligo.
“Hopefully in two years we will be pushing up and challenging for leagues. This year we want to finish as high as possible, go on a good cup run and try to get through Europe that way.”
For more, watch Soccer Republic on Monday night on RTÉ2 or catch up on RTÉ Player
