LIFFORD Celtic manager Lee White is determined to give their Greenbrae base a good send off.

Lifford are currently developing a new pitch near Applegreen on the Letterkenny side of the town, and are hoping that it will be up-and-running for next season.

White has lost count of how many stints he has had as Lifford manager now but he’s looking forward to the year ahead.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve done it at this stage. I’ve been about a good few times. There’s been good and bad.

“The club had a manager in place but he wasn’t getting the commitment from the players. I thought to myself this is our last year at Greenbrae. We have a new ground that will hopefully be ready for next year at some stage. With that in mind, I just felt it was too important of a year to let things slip.

“I’m not saying I know any better than any other man but I just felt I might be able to get a few more of the locals out.

“Things are going alright at the minute and we’re getting good numbers at training.

“Our underage is coming through. I was involved with an Under 16 team and I could see the potential in them, and the Under 18s had a decent season as well.”

Lifford won promotion two years ago but went straight back down with only one win from 18 games.

That was a poor showing but the border club have bolstered their squad over the summer months.

“I’ve a few players that were away at other teams back in like Stuart Carlin, Daniel McNulty, Shane McNulty, and Paul McNulty. Niall O’Reilly is back in. Sean (Ferry) is back as well. He had no choice because myself and him are going out with two sisters, so we’re a package. Sean would attract people to come in as well. My plan is to take this job for three years and build it up, and get the club settled.”

He added: “I just thought if could entice a couple of those young fellas to play along with the senior boys that were there then we could have a good year in Division Two.

“I’m not saying we’re going to win it but we should be able to progress these young players. We will be trying to win of course, but it’s just getting the boys to buy into it.”