O'Neill primed for Rovers role

SHAMROCK ROVERS unveiled their new manager yesterday in Tallaght after 39-year-old former Northern Ireland international Michael O'Neill was confirmed as Pat Scully's successor at the Premier Division outfit over the weekend.

Club chairman Jonathan Roche said they cast the net far in their search and O'Neill had been the outstanding candidate. "He met the whole board," said Roche, "and there was a genuine feeling Michael was our man. We're lucky to get someone of his calibre."

A much travelled former player who played more than 30 times for the North, O'Neill has built a solid reputation for himself since becoming the manager of Brechin, who are pushing for promotion from the Scottish first division.

Though he had been a target for a couple of bigger Scottish sides, he said yesterday he had been attracted by the challenge of taking over at Rovers at such a pivotal time in their history. "It was one of the big appeals of the job," he said. "There is an expectation that the job will involve taking the club forward in the new stadium and the wider area where they've located themselves. That was a big factor in me taking the job. It's not something I fear.

"I'll be bringing my own stamp to the club," he added. "I'll expect a hard-working, high-tempo kind of football that the players will adapt to in training and bring to their game. I want a team that will express themselves and play without any fear. The product on the park over there should be an exciting product. That's what we're aiming to do."