DARREN Mullen has known plenty of success with Newry City in the past – but the manager admits his current task of turning things around at the border club could be his biggest challenge yet.
Mullen – who stepped down as Newry boss back in April 2023 – returned to the Showgrounds in October after the departure of Barry Gray
Newry were relegated from the top flight at the end of last season and currently sit just a point off the bottom of the Playr-Fit Championship.
“We need to stay in this league, that’s the reality of it,” stressed Mullen, whose side face Ards at Clandeboye Park on Saturday (3pm).
“We are working on trying to bring players in, There is only so much I can do with the squad that we have at the minute.
“I need to bring in players who can play in the style that we want. But it’s easier said than done to bring those players in. Our young players deserve a lot of credit but we are having to throw too many of them in too quickly.
“I’m look to bring players in in January and that will help the players that are here. If we bring in that bit more quality it will help bring the other players on. We are working hard behind the scenes. This is going to be a rebuild. It’s difficult but we will get there.
“The players are a good bunch of lads – they are willing to work hard.”
Newry – who went down 3-0 away to Limavady last Saturday in a match badly hampered by Storm Darragh – will have experienced defender Noel Healy back from suspension to face Ards.
Mullen felt his side deserved something from the Limavady match despite the 3-0 scoreline.
He said: “If we can bring the positives from the second half of the Limavady match to the Ards match then we’ll give ourselves a good chance.
“Noel’s return will be like getting a new player. He typifies how we like to play in terms of intensity and aggression. He is used to how I want Newry teams to play.”
In Saturday’s other matches (all 3pm), runaway leaders Bangor – 10 points clear at the top – travel to face Institute at the Brandywell, second placed Limavady go to Ballyclare Comrades, north Belfast’s Newington head east to tackle the Welders, Armagh City host Dundela and Ballinamallard welcome Annagh.