New Derry boss Tiernan Lynch looking to 'knock Rovers, Shels off their perch'

Tiernan Lynch has one main goal as he takes over as manager of Derry City; to make the Candystripes the biggest club on the island of Ireland.

A fairly ambitious objective, no doubt, yet if Lynch can replicate the success he has enjoyed at Larne over the next few years, the Ryan McBride Brandywell faithful will be more that happy with the new arrival.

A case of the seven-year itch, perhaps, as Lynch left Larne – mid-season and still with three Europa Conference League games to play – to take up the Derry job following Ruaidhri Higgins' departure following the FAI Cup final defeat.

And while he is not promising silverware straightaway at his new club, he is bringing a blueprint for success, having guided Larne from relative obscurity to becoming back-to-back Irish League champions over the past two years, while remarkably guiding the Antrim club to the league phase of European competition.

"There will be no players that will go onto the pitch that aren't committed to Derry City Football Club and take pride in the badge."

Derry have been challenging for league honours in recent seasons, and won the FAI Cup under Higgins in 2022, however, they have been unable to show the required consistency to secure a first title since the 1996-97 season and missed out on European football with this year's fourth-placed finish.

But Lynch is more than willing to take up that challenge to take Derry to the next level, and did not have to think twice when he was offered the role, having recently rejected the chance to manager in the Scottish Premiership with St Johnstone.

"I had a great seven-and-a-half years at Larne FC but as soon as I met the representatives of Derry City it was a very quick decision and there wasn’t too much to think about,"