McGroarty takes the reigns at Limavady United
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Limavady United’s new manager Jimmy McGroarty.
LIMAVADY United have appointed former Dungiven Celtic Manager Jimmy McGroarty as their new Manager.
The former Finn Harps, Stoke City, Sligo Rovers and Glenavon player takes over after the extremely brief reign of Liam Beckett, and is looking forward to a spell as manager that should last longer than a cricket test match.
“I'm very much looking forward to getting started with Limavady United," Said Jimmy, "I worked with Dungiven Celtic for a long time but I have never managed at this level before, it will be great to work with a settled squad of players week in, week out.
“Limavady is a great club, and hopefully now we can get some stability so that we can push on and get back to where we belong in the premier division."
McGroarty's optimistic words will be welcome news for United fans as due to a disastrous start to the campaign, the team have shipped 16 goals in six competitive fixtures, an issue which Jimmy has pinpointed as the one which he needs to address first and foremost.
“We have let in too many goals so far this season," Jimmy told The Northern Constitution, " so my first priority will be shoring up the backline. I try to instil a passing style of play in my teams, but getting this right is dependant on having a solid back five of defenders and goalkeeper."
McGroarty will also be charged with the task of stabilising a club and a squad of players that have had to deal with a lot of off the field incidents over the past several weeks.
Since last season they have been relegated, part due to an administrative error, been forced to play home games away from home until the clubs changing facilities met new standards set by the IFA, and have now in the space of 2 weeks, had 3 different managers. But as Jimmy pointed out, all these off the field distractions are now coming to an end: "We are back playing at the Showgrounds as of now, we have had time to settle into our new division, and I plan on being here for the foreseeable future, so all those destabilising factors that have plagued the club so far this season are a thing of the past."
In terms of the squad he has inherited, Jimmy met with his new players for the first time as manager before last night's (Tuesday) Northwest Cup clash with Coleraine, but he is confident that he is up to speed with the teams strengths and weaknesses. "We have a good young squad with plenty of potential here. Obviously it is up to me to help the players reach that potential, but if I can do that then there is no doubt in my mind that we can turn our season round. It's early days in the league, we still have the other so-called big teams to play, and if we take points off them, then we can be there or there abouts at the end of the season, but at the minute it will be about steadying the ship, grinding out a few results, and getting the team's confidence up."
Limavady United Chairman, David Young, told The Northern Constitution: " Jimmy is someone we have been aware of for a long time, he was in the running for the job before Liam Beckett, and after Liam told us he wasn't staying, Jim was the first man we contacted as he impressed us with his attitude and knowledge of the game."
