Horgan set for crunch meeting with Finn Harps board

FINN Harps manager Ollie Horgan acknowledged yesterday, Thursday, that his meeting with the club’s board next week will go a long way to deciding his future.

Horgan was on the sidelines for last Friday’s 2-0 win over Limerick in the promotion play-off, a win that ensured Harps will be back playing Premier League football next season.

The St Eunan’s College teacher is mid-way through a two-year term at Finn Park but he’s growing concerned at the club’s finances, fuelling speculation that he could walk away from the job.

“I was delighted for the lads on Friday night but, almost immediately, my heart sank as I wondered where do we go from here” he said.

Limerick, with a budget three times bigger than Harps, had just been relegated while Sligo Rovers – who also struggled in the lower reaches of the Premier Division this season – spent four times the budget of their North West neighbours on players in 2018.

Horgan admitted he remains in the dark as to how long his role as manager of Finn Harps may last.

“This isn’t about me. It never was but I’m struggling to see how we can compete against these teams unless our budget increases dramatically.

“If there are businesses out there that are interested in getting involved with a good club then I would love to here from there. While it’s not my job I’ll gladly sit down and talk things over with them.

“I need to know that the club is on the same page. Otherwise, what’s the point?” he asked.

“If we don’t get a cash injection in from somewhere we’ll go straight back down to the First Division next season. It really doesn’t matter who is the manager. I can guarantee that one hundred per cent,” he said.

Horgan is one of the three nominees for the Professional Football Association of Ireland’s ‘Manager of the Year’ which will be decided at the annual awards dinner in the Marker Hotel in Dublin this Saturday night. The shortlist also includes UCD boss Collie O’Neill and Tim Clancy of Drogheda United.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I was more annoyed that we had no players on the Team of the Year as they were the real heroes this season,” he said.

Horgan will present his wish-list to the club’s board at next Tuesday’s meeting and only time will tell where both he and the club go from there.

Ensuring that Horgan remains in charge could well prove to be the club’s most important signing – three months ahead of the 2019 season.

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