New Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch has vowed to make the Candystripes the biggest club in Ireland.
The 44-year-old was officially unveiled as the new club’s boss this morning having signed a three-year contract, and although he admits he has a massive task on his hands as he looks to knock Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers off their perch, it’s one he’s relishing, adding: “nothing in life is worthwhile unless there’s a challenge that goes with it.”
After becoming Ruaidhrí Higgin’s successor on Monday, the Belfast native’s arrival marks a fresh start at the Brandywell after a bitterly disappointing end to the 2024 campaign which saw the club finish fourth, lose the FAI Cup final and miss out on European football for 2025.
Lynch, who led Larne to back-to-back NIFL Premiership titles during his seven-and-a-half years at Inver Park, says he has not spoken to Higgins yet this week but intends to so soon.
But with Mark Connolly, Brian Maher and Adam O’Reilly and others now out of contract, Lynch hopes he is able convince some to remain at the Brandywell for the 2025 campaign, as the club eye a first title since 1997 as well as a return to Europe.
“There is no doubt this is a massive challenge but I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think this club had the potential to be the biggest on the island of Ireland. Our job is to try to bring that out,” said Lynch, speaking to the media at his unveiling at the Brandywell this morning.
“As soon as I met the representatives of Derry City it was a very quick decision and there wasn’t too much to think about. It was a no-brainer. It was music to my ears when I heard the opportunities that lie at Derry.
“I’m not going to sit here and tell lies that I might not be able to deliver on, but the one thing I will guarantee is that there will be hard work. From the first minute I had the conversation, your mind started working overtime about what could be done.
“There is no doubt that one of the reasons we came here (is) that challenge, making sure we can knock teams like Shamrock Rovers off their perch, and Shelbourne off their perch and bring that little bit of pride back here.”
Newly-appointed Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch, left, with Derry City chief executive Sean Barrett during a press conference at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Asked if he’s expecting a large turnover of players in the off-season, with former captain Patrick McEleney, his brother Shane, and striker Colm Whelan all departing the club in recent days, Lynch hopes to be able to convince others to stay put.
“I hope not (big turnover this winter). Today is the first day. We’ll start getting around to the players from today and lay out our vision of where we want to go,” said Lynch, who also rejected the St Johnstone job two months ago to remain at Larne.
“We have a very clear structure and playing style and hope the players will buy into it. We hope the players who are maybe thinking about moving on, that we can change their mind.
“We’ve been using the word legacy over the last number of days and that’s definitely what we want to bring to this club. We were fortunate to be able to put in structures at Larne which will be there for years to come and that’s definitely the plan here.
“I fully believe Derry City can be the biggest club on the island of Ireland. There is so much success that can be brought here both on and off the field and it’s a challenge I’m absolutely relishing.
“As long as the supporters get behind us, we know we’ve the backing of the owner and the board and collectively the goal is to go and fulfil the dreams of the supporters of Derry City.”
After Derry’s title run-in with eventual champions Shelbourne fell at the penultimate hurdle last month, Lynch hopes he’ll be able to bring a first Premier Division crown in 28 years back to the Brandywell come the end of next season.
“I’d be sitting here telling lies if I didn’t tell you I took this job definitely with that (league title) in mind,” he added.
“It’s something we’ll be working on everyday to strive towards. We had a grand period at Larne but it’s over now, chapter’s closed. The first page of the new chapter starts today and that’s what we’ll build towards.
“Top teams, top players and top managers (in the Premier Division). There is no doubt it will be difficult, but like anything, there is nothing in life worthwhile unless there is a challenge that goes with it.
“This is not going to be a straight line, there will be bumps along the way but as long as we stay together, I think the fans will see quickly we’ll be 100pc committed in what we do. There will be no players that will go onto the pitch that aren’t committed to Derry City.”
With an artificial surface still in place at the Brandywell, Lynch hopes a new pitch can be laid at the ground sooner rather than later.
“I think any footballer will tell you that the natural grass and the natural surface is definitely easier to play on, less injuries and a truer run of the ball, so it’s definitely something the club wants to strive to,” he said.
“We have ongoing talks, as you know this is a facility owned by Derry City Council,” added club chief executive Seán Barrett on the issue of the pitch.
“We’re pushing that as far as we can within this particular system and working very quickly towards it. It’s something on our agenda and hopefully it will get done sooner rather than later,” said Barrett, who also went on to describe how Lynch soon emerged as the club’s preferred candidate after Higgins departed in the wake of this month’s FAI Cup final defeat to Drogheda United at Lansdowne Road.
“We were unaware this was going to happen until Friday because Ruaidhrí was the manager. We were quite happy for him to stay on, and he decided he wanted to go.
“We sat down then and said ‘What do we need? What’s the DNA for what we need as a club going forward?’ Every single person around that table, the same person kept coming up and it was Tiernan Lynch.
“I spoke to Tiernan and his vision going forward for the club, it was nearly as if he was listening to our board meeting. The facilities we have here, the new stand getting built and will be finished in February.
“It’s fabulous for the club and the city. The ambitions we have completely fulfil his ambitions so I think it’s a great match for the club.”