Nathan Rooney sends out defiant title message as he takes over the reins at Larne

New Larne boss Nathan Rooney has sent out a defiant message after he was officially unveiled at Inver Park. Under previous boss Tiernan Lynch the Invermen won back-to-back Irish Premiership titles, but they currently sit 14 points off Linfield with four games in hand on the league leaders.

While Rooney accepts they need to convert those games into points he has every confidence that his new squad can "go all the way" again this season. “Absolutely," said the 35-year-old when asked if Larne can win the title this season. “We understand that there are a few games in hand and that we are playing catch-up to some extent.

“There has been a shift in mentality at this club this season because we are in the league phase of a European competition, but I have a strong and happy group of players, and that’s something that can take you a long way in football. If we can build momentum and build confidence over the next four or five games, there is no reason why we can’t go all the way again this season.”

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Rooney may be a new name to many in the Irish League but he is no stranger to football here having watched on from afar in Gibraltar as he revealed he had set his sights on managing here.

"Absolutely, I set my sights on it probably 18 months ago," said the former Bruno's Magpies boss. "It's a league I've followed, it's well televised and there's probably 10-12 players I've worked with in the past who've come into this division...and two are in our squad (Mark Randall at Crawley and Cian Bolger at Fleetwood).

"The standard in this league is higher (compared to Gibraltar club football), the physicality, the demands and the pressures in terms of what's up for grabs because of the following and the fans. But, for me, you look at it and the speed of the game, there's tactically very good managers in the league and I want to go and test myself against that now.

"I'm not one to plan the next step (in terms of career), obviously it's got to come hand-in-hand where there's interest and you're saying the same things as the club. I think I've been patient, there's been a three-year project there (in Gibraltar) and I went in on my own...so it was very important I could come and do the same thing again.

"A lot of transitions in football happen when you're losing...but that's what you want, you want success stories, you want your next man to come in with the same momentum and feeling. I'm not here to talk about the past because there's nothing to talk about apart from just success.

"So you can tell in the room there's good confidence, there's good energy...we've got to carry that forward. Things not broken? Continue. Things that need to be addressed over time? Perfect. An unbelievable accolade for myself (to get the Larne job) so let's see if I can prove everyone right or wrong."

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