Manager David Healy admits his club will suffer financially after Linfield’s UEFA Conference League exit at Windsor Park on Thursday night.
It was another night of European agony for the Blues who were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Icelandic side Stjarnan, who now face Estonia’s Linnameeskond in a money-spinning second round tie.
The Blues were only two minutes away from forcing extra time. Even though they lost last week’s first leg 2-0 in Reykjavik, they managed to haul themselves level on the night.
Stjarnan skipper Gudmundur Kristjansson headed into his own net early on, which gifted the Blues the start they craved, only for the visitors to equalise after the restart when Email Atlason – he scored both goals last week — headed home.
Linfield retaliated with teenage substitute Matthew Orr, who was making his debut, nodding them in front before Matthew Fitzpatrick added a third – the international arena was bouncing.
Just when extra time loomed, substitute Helgi Ingason fired in a second and crucial goal for the visiting team, ending Linfield’s interest in the tournament for another year – costing them something in the region of £200,000!
To compound Linfield’s heartache, skipper Chris Shields was dismissed in the last minute following a horrible lunge on substitute Jaukur Brink.
Healy insists it was a bad night off and on the pitch.
“Financially to the football club the result is detrimental,” said former Northern Ireland international striker Healy. “I know that better than most.
“With the success we had the past (in Europe) I know the extra money is required for the day-to-day running (of the club).
“We are not a club that enjoys investment. The money we generate is through player sales; tickets sales; shirt sales and through winning rounds in Europe.
“As a manager I know the implications. We must tread carefully over the next few weeks. I don’t envisage a raft of new signings that’s for sure.”
Healy believes his boys did enough to win the game, but not for the first time, they shot themselves in the foot.
“It was a big chance lost,” he added. “It was a sore one to take, it was gut-wrenching in terms of being so near.
“The goals we conceded were frustratingly similar, pattern-wise, to the ones we conceded last year, even though we have different personnel.
“It was the manner of the goals we gave away that was frustrating. We got what we wanted with the early goal and probably didn’t capitalise on the other big moments we created. We missed a few decent opportunities of getting a second goal.
“When it was 3-3 (on aggregate), I still thought we could go on and win the game.
“I wouldn’t say it was a lack of discipline (on how they lost it), but it’s something I will addressing going forward. Game management is key in football, it’s so important.
“We were brave in the decisions we made (positive substitutions). We got our joy with the goals, and I genuinely thought it was there for the taking.
“The chances were there . . . Kirk Millar must have put 15 deliveries into the box, as he did last week. Not getting the goals last week, with the opportunities we had, have cost us this week.
“We put a hell of a lot into the game in terms of energy and effort and we got ourselves level in the tie overall, but we still couldn’t find a way to go on and win it.
“Perhaps, we were pushing too hard to win it. Again, that is something I’ll assess in the coming days. In saying that, I still had the inner belief that someone would pick the right pass, find the right moment.
“Not for the first time, we shot ourselves in the foot by conceding a soft equaliser. When that went in, it put us on the backfoot.
“Credit to the players, they stuck at it. We changed shape and we had some joy by scoring twice. The tie was level on aggregate, but somehow, we found a way to lose it.
“We looked the likely team to win it, until that late second goal went in, that’s the most frustrating thing for me.”