[BFC SITE] Conor Hourihane Pre-Mansfield Town Press Conference

Hear from our Interim Head Coach's first press conference as the Reds prepare to take on Mansfield Town in Sky Bet League One.


On The Past 48 Hours:

Yesterday lunchtime, I was in St George's Park doing a course. I got a call from the football club just to know the plan moving forward. I then quickly left there, quickly came up here and it’s straight down to work really.

On Initial Thoughts When The Opportunity Arose:

Lots to be honest, obviously Darrell, somebody losing their job. It’s an opportunity for me, I’m wanting to help the club, I then needed to get organised. What do I need to do first? Many, many things as you can imagine. So, a bit of a whirlwind last 24 hours, but here we are. I’m ready to go.

On First Steps As the Head Coach:

The first couple of things is, go home, pack a bag, make sure I’ve got enough stuff for the first couple of nights, and speak to staff, speak to the club, speak to Mladen and get organised. You know, head on, it's all we can do, it’s all I can do. There's been plenty of work in the background over the last hours, last night, early hours this morning, with staff, with analysts, to put the lads in a good place really, over this next couple of days.

On What It Means to Become Head Coach:

I’m delighted, of course, I’ve been shown big trust, it’s obviously been a rollercoaster season for myself, I've put in countless amounts of hours, hard work and sacrifice in terms of this role since I've been here, many late evenings making sure that everything's done to a top-level and things that people don't see. So the club has obviously seen something in that, and how I'm going about my business, how I conduct myself, and I'm hoping that I'll get a bounce from the lads and create a bit of energy and a bit of buzz.

On Coaching Journey So Far:

I’ve finished my A licence, I’ve applied for a pro licence and that's ongoing, and then I've just done a course on the side in between the A licence and the pro licence and I’m due to be finished in the summer of this June coming forward, and to kind of fill the gap, learn more, develop, so I’m up to date with it all as best I can really.

On The Issues Being Faced:

I suppose a team lacking consistency over the course of the season, I think we've had okay performances, and good results in spells, then we go and lose a couple. There are some quality players in the dressing there's no doubt about that, I've had a close relationship with many of them over the course of the season, In terms of my coaching role, which has been brilliant. The lads have been great with me in terms of my role, what they've given me, how they've applied themselves towards the things I've asked, and I know I'll get a kick out of them moving forward because since I've come in, there's been that mutual respect. And they've been brilliant with me since day one.

On Potential Style of Play:

Well, in terms of the plan, I think over the last 12 hours for myself it's been dealt with pretty seamlessly and the club has dealt with it in the way they wanted. I've been briefed, the clubs handled it well, the lads have handled it very smoothly, everything's gone the way the club has wanted it to go over the last 12 hours, everyone knows their role, everyone knows their position. So from that point of view, it's been pretty easy, the club have been brilliant. And then hopefully, moving forward onto Mansfield, I can create both that energy, that intensity that I want to see more of, the clubs high pressing, getting in their face. It's what the fans demand, what the fans want, and that just gives you a base. Then in terms of with the ball, we’ve got some very good footballers in the team, in the squad, that I want to see more of, in terms of on the ball, bravery and dominating the game from that point of view. So hopefully there'll be a mix of both, and ultimately, fingers crossed that brings good results on top of it.

On the Chance of Playoffs:

It's something that we would love, but it's a difficult task, of course, but I think it's a step at a time for now. We’re going to have a couple of days on the grass, Thursday, Friday, and hopefully, it will bring a good result and a good performance come Saturday. That could be a stepping stone for us. It's as simple as that, to be looking too far ahead in the big chaos of I was gone recently, over the last 12 hours or so would be silly. It's about taking care of today, taking care of tomorrow, and then into Mansfield and then see how we go.

On Priorities In Coming Days:

Yeah, of course, we’ve got to make most of the hours. We’ve got to make the most of the time being, from very early this morning, making sure everything's in check at a high level and a high standard, and organised, it's key for any success. So fingers crossed, that will be the case over the next couple of days, in terms of everyone being on board, everyone I've already spoken to, the staff I’ve briefed them on how I see the next couple of days, and everyone seems aligned with it, and we move forward into the training session to then take care of that.

On How He Views The Opportunity:

Yeah, of course, but there's an opportunity there. I'm not fazed by the situation, I've been part of big football clubs, so this is obviously new territory in terms of coaching, but in terms of pressure environments, It's nothing new to me. I'll take it in my stride, let's see how we go, and fingers crossed, it’ll go well for me, but more importantly, for the football club.

Continue reading...

 

I'd recommend watching the press conference on ifollow.

Comes across far better than Clarke did. He's certainly a focused and I'd probably say ruthless individual. I've no doubt he'll give it everything he has to try and make it a success. Best of luck Conor.

 

I really hoped he would get his boots on and get amongst the lads on the field .
I'm sure he is fit enough for 60 minutes.

 

Give em hell Conor COYR

 

Can't wait. Sumat about the guy.

 

Pack a bag for the first couple of nights?

Does our Gaffer kip in the West Stand?

 

And was he only part time until yesterday or something?

 

Or in his old role he commuted in daily whereas he's decided in his first few days he's gonna stop over because he needs more time to work considering the extra accountabilities he's got?

 

"I got a call from the football club"

Grrrrr. Pet hates thread.

In the bin. Pity, was fully behind him. Next

 

Why, are we not a "football club"?

On second thoughts, don't answer that...

 

I can't help thinking that he'll be doing plenty of touching base and thinking outside of the box with his new mate Mladen.

 

It'll be intetesting if he gets results without "the press"; what happens then?

 

Well he was a midfielder so he never did get in the box much

 

That's unusual, or are you just being a bit sarcy ?.

 

Hoping he's a total success

I really don't want him to tarnish his previous record with us.

I have everything crossed for him.

 

It made me laugh though.
As I'm sure we do all get wound up sometimes, by the slightest of things!.

 

Oh look, someone who isnt an absolute divvy. How refreshing.

 

Question for you mate, does Conor have any credit in the bank for you at all by virtue of his time with us as a player?

I get that you feel hoodwinked by his return and subsequent retirement. I too was very disappointed that we didn't see anything of him this season. But you seem very keen indeed to pick fault with him right now, when it seems to me we need to give him all the positivity we can muster.

 

Refreshing viewing.