It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new lease of life for Bray Wanderers, and Gary Cronin is feeling excited about his first ever managerial job. The 39-year old ex-Seagull is aware of the off-field problems suffered by the Co.Wicklow club in re
It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new lease of life for Bray Wanderers, and Gary Cronin is feeling excited about his first ever managerial job.
The 39-year old ex-Seagull is aware of the off-field problems suffered by the Co.Wicklow club in recent times - he's clicked on the websites, he's read the newspapers and he's listened to the podcasts. But he's also spoken to the club's new chairman Niall O'Driscoll and that is what whetted the former Longford Town number two's appetite for the Bray dugout.
"It's my first job. I'm not going to get the perfect job", admitted Cronin. "I have to prove myself and I thought after speaking to the new chairman that it was a fantastic opportunity and I was delighted to take it on. He was enthusiastic about the new project that's coming and so was I. We shared a lot of the same thoughts and values so I was happy to take the job."
The honeymoon period did not last long. Finn Harps dumped Cronin's men out of the FAI Cup after extra time but Cronin knows this is not a quick-fix - he was only introduced to the players for the first time 48 hours before the visit of Ollie Horgan's side.
"Two sessions, two weeks, two months - it doesn't all come together in a set period of time but my aim for the immediate future is to try and build a relationship with the players and understand their capabilities. I want to find a way of playing football that is fitted around their capabilities. The one thing I will say about them is that they've been excellent for me in training and as people - their respect has been excellent. The effort out on the park on Friday was excellent and I cannot fault that."
With relegation to the First Division a distinct possibility for the Seagulls, did Cronin take on the role with a view to a rebuilding project in 2019 in the second tier?
"I've had that thrown at me a couple of times but where we are next year is where we are. It's that's in the First Division then so be it but I'll try as best as I can to keep it in the Premier. People have said to me am I preparing for next season - that's part of it - but now I'm preparing for each game as it comes."
