Bradley: 'I had a great chat with Ronan before decision'

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley said he had a "good chat" with club captain Ronan Finn before deciding to remain at the Tallaght club and acknowledged that the lure of European football was a factor in his decision.

All week, Bradley was widely tipped to leave the defending champions for Lincoln City. However, on Friday, the surprise news emerged that Bradley had declined the opportunity with the League One side and was staying in Dublin.

Having made his decision to remain, Bradley watched his side dispatch Finn Harps 3-1 in Tallaght on Friday night, Derry City's simultaneous failure to beat Bohemians at home narrowing the gap at the top to a single point.

Speaking afterwards to RTÉ Sport, Bradley said the players were kept in the loop all week, as he weighed up the offer from England.

"The players have been brilliant. We had chats during the week and I was open and honest with them. I had a really good chat with Ronan (Finn) before I made my decision.

"It was really good to get the players' point of view. We all respect each other in the dressing room, players and staff. All week, we kept them in the loop of where I was and what I was thinking."

Bradley acknowledged that the lure of European football was a factor when making the decision and said he felt he had more to achieve with the Hoops.

"It (Europe) was definitely a factor within the decision. Like I said, and I genuinely mean it, Lincoln are a really good club, really clever people there and they're going to be successful.

"But I felt that here, we still have things to achieve. That was really important to me.

"We have to keep pushing. Keep pushing each other, pushing the standards. Keep pushing our hunger and ambition. If we do that, the quality is there. We need