BRAY WANDERERS MANAGER Harry Kenny insists his side will continue to push for European football until the very last day of the season.
Following four straight defeats which unfolded during the club’s recurring off-field woes, Bray earned their first point in five games last Friday thanks to a 0-0 draw with Bohemians in Dalymount Park.
With the closure of the League of Ireland’s transfer window last Monday, the Bray manager admitted it was a relief that they had kept on all of their squad and could now return their focus to football-related matters.
“We got a bit of a boost during the week with money secured and all that sort of stuff. With the transfer window closed we got a bit of a boost in that way too,” he said.
“Training sessions were very good this week compared to the previous four weeks, so I’m delighted with that.
“It’s hard to do,” Kenny said on trying to put the ordeal of the past month behind them.
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Bray drew 0-0 with Bohemians last Friday to pick up their first point in five games. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
“Lads have been tapped up and all the rest. Other managers have been onto them and obviously their heads were turned over the last four weeks.
“It’s our job to get them back focused and with the window gone it’ll be a little bit easier I hope.”
Bray looked favourable to secure a European place with a run of form which began with six wins from their opening 10 games this season.
With four straight defeats to Dundalk, Cork City, St Pat’s and Finn Harps in July, however, their grip on third spot has been relinquished.
The club now sits in fifth spot, nine points adrift of Derry City in third. Despite this Kenny was optimistic of his side’s chances of pushing for Europe, even if it means finishing fourth.
“We would be,” he said on whether or not Bray are still looking to qualify for Europe.
“We finished sixth last season and I always wanted to improve on that. So any improvement on that would be a half-decent season.
Supporters wear masks of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in response to a club press release. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
“If we got Europe, fantastic. Fourth place has gotten Europe in the past, so that could be up for grabs and might get us in there.”
In a statement released last week, the FAI said that Bray had confirmed to the Association they had secured the adequate financial investment to see out the remainder of the season.
With chairman Denis O’Connor stepping down and a series of bizarre press releases bringing the club into the limelight for all the wrong reasons, the Bray manager said the last month had been testing.
“I would have to acknowledge it was a very tough four weeks to keep everyone on board.
“At the same time, the transfer window was open and the money wasn’t secured, and that was hard trying to convince lads to stay, to tell them it was going to be okay.
“So I’m happy that things have worked out, that the money is secured and that the transfer deadline is gone.
“I’m delighted now that their heads are back focused on football.”
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'It was a very tough four weeks' - Bray still aiming for European football despite recent woes
BRAY WANDERERS MANAGER Harry Kenny insists his side will continue to push for European football until the very last day of the season.
Following four straight defeats which unfolded during the club’s recurring off-field woes, Bray earned their first point in five games last Friday thanks to a 0-0 draw with Bohemians in Dalymount Park.
With the closure of the League of Ireland’s transfer window last Monday, the Bray manager admitted it was a relief that they had kept on all of their squad and could now return their focus to football-related matters.
“We got a bit of a boost during the week with money secured and all that sort of stuff. With the transfer window closed we got a bit of a boost in that way too,” he said.
“Training sessions were very good this week compared to the previous four weeks, so I’m delighted with that.
“It’s hard to do,” Kenny said on trying to put the ordeal of the past month behind them.
“Lads have been tapped up and all the rest. Other managers have been onto them and obviously their heads were turned over the last four weeks.
“It’s our job to get them back focused and with the window gone it’ll be a little bit easier I hope.”
Bray looked favourable to secure a European place with a run of form which began with six wins from their opening 10 games this season.
With four straight defeats to Dundalk, Cork City, St Pat’s and Finn Harps in July, however, their grip on third spot has been relinquished.
The club now sits in fifth spot, nine points adrift of Derry City in third. Despite this Kenny was optimistic of his side’s chances of pushing for Europe, even if it means finishing fourth.
“We would be,” he said on whether or not Bray are still looking to qualify for Europe.
“We finished sixth last season and I always wanted to improve on that. So any improvement on that would be a half-decent season.
“If we got Europe, fantastic. Fourth place has gotten Europe in the past, so that could be up for grabs and might get us in there.”
In a statement released last week, the FAI said that Bray had confirmed to the Association they had secured the adequate financial investment to see out the remainder of the season.
With chairman Denis O’Connor stepping down and a series of bizarre press releases bringing the club into the limelight for all the wrong reasons, the Bray manager said the last month had been testing.
“I would have to acknowledge it was a very tough four weeks to keep everyone on board.
“At the same time, the transfer window was open and the money wasn’t secured, and that was hard trying to convince lads to stay, to tell them it was going to be okay.
“So I’m happy that things have worked out, that the money is secured and that the transfer deadline is gone.
“I’m delighted now that their heads are back focused on football.”
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