Connor determined to revive Bohemians

Banishing the disappointment of the last two seasons is the immediate objective of new Bohemians manager Sean Connor who was unveiled as Gareth Farrelly's successor at Dalymount Park today.

Connor, who penned a three-year deal, resigned from Sligo Rovers a fortnight ago - a club he had managed for two years - before accepting a job which had attracted interest both here and in Britain.

Conor will attend tonight's season-ending league game against title-chasing Shelbourne but will observe from the Tolka Park stands.  Caretaker managers Alan Caffrey and Pat Clery will pick the Bohemians team and man the dugout.

"It's a job I couldn't turn down and I have very exciting plans for the future of Bohemians FC," Connor said today. 
 
"There is no doubt the club has underachieved of late, so things have to change and the first thing we have to do is to get the players believing in themselves.  The club will need freshening up."

Bohemians are due a financial boost owing to the sale of Dalymount and while club officials today attempted to play down the size of next season's budget, Connor is already eyeing the transfer market.

"The budget has not been finalised yet but it will be a significant increase and we are looking to bolster the squad," he said without revealing his targets.

"I know some of the players I want to bring in but I won't be rushing anything.  I'll take time to monitor the situation and adopt a wait and see approach.

"I'm not here to waste finances and squander money," he added.  "I'll continue to be prudent.  I'll be looking for young talent with a point to prove but also one or two of the top players in the league.

"The fans deserve success and we want to be challenging in the top four of the league," said Connor who is also eyeing Uefa and Champions League qualification.  "We want a significant improvement on the last two years."

Next season's budget will be approximately 50 per cent larger than this year's but club secretary Gerry Conway denied Connor was now the highest paid manager in the league.

Connor met the squad yesterday and will do so again next week.  Nine of his players are out of contract on season's end while the futures of both Caffrey and Clery remain unclear.

Connor refused to speculate on whether or not the pair will be kept on.  "Everything is up for grabs at the moment," he said before confirming talks with the pair will be scheduled.

Both Conway and club president Gerry Cuffe said Connor was an "ambitious character" while Conway singled out the Belfast man's success at Sligo despite the club's budget restrictions.

"It's definitely an exciting time for the club," Cuffe said.  "Everyone knows we endured a turbulent time on the pitch recently and this was driven by financial restraints."

Player-manager Farrelly left Bohemians after the 2-0 FAI Cup replay defeat to bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in August.  Both Caffrey and Clery have been in temporary charge since.

Bohemians are currently ninth in the Premier Division and will finish in that position no matter what the outcome of tonight's game with Shelbourne.