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Shea Campbell points to one key factor for Coleraine revolution to yield success

A picture of Dylan Boyle, Cammy Stewart, Matthew Shevlin and Kyle McClelland
-Credit:Inpho/Stephen Hamilton


Shea Campbell has backed the footballing revolution at Coleraine to be a success but insists that fans will have to show some patience.

After moving to a full-time model at the start of this season the Bannsiders are set for the next stage in their journey with several high-profile signings targeted thanks to the financial injection from majority shareholder Henry Ross.

Joel Cooper, Levi Ives and Ronan Doherty are just some of the players linked with a move to The Showgrounds ahead of next season with excitement levels already building amongst the support.

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Campbell has backed the the current regime, spearheaded by his brothers-in-law Dean Shiels and Oran Kearney, to bring success to the club but added it won't happen overnight.

"The transition is going to take time," said the Armagh City boss. "The guys know what they are doing. They have good coaches here, Oran and other boys are good football people.

"They know what direction they need to go and they will get there. The fans need to be patient and it will work. The boys know the game and it'll take two or three years to make it happen."

Campbell saw first-hand what the current Coleraine squad are capable of as they dumped his Armagh side out of the Irish Cup last Saturday. They were on the wrong side of a 5-0 defeat but the City boss said it was a good learning curve for his players.

"It's been a marvellous season for us so far with a good couple of cup runs," said Campbell. "It was always going to be difficult task against a good side but if we can finish in the top six, it will have been an unreal season for us.

"We will keep going, hope to stay away from relegation and the top six will cap a great season for us. It's always a learning curve when you go to a place like Coleraine. You have to learn fast and I said to the lads about concentration and things like that.

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"The second goal just drifted off the shoulder for a corner kick and you can't do that at this level as you'll be punished. I think we were up against an uphill battle after the second goal."

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