Stephen McPhail: Shamrock Rovers players not entertaining four-in-a-row talk

Shamrock Rovers sporting director Stephen McPhail says talk of potentially winning four SSE Airtricity League titles in a row is not being entertained by the club's players.

The Hoops go into this season off the back of three league successes in a row and kick off the potential four-in-a-row campaign against Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

But Stephen Bradley's squad are steering clear of discussions about matching the 1980s generation which still holds the record for consecutive Irish league titles.

"We're trying to take away that from the players. They don't speak about it to be honest," McPhail told RTÉ Sport's Damien O'Meara at the 2023 League of Ireland season launch at Dublin's City Hall.

"We're just trying to take every game as head on and look forward to the challenge."

However, he added that the club's history, including the four-in-a-row team, is a reference point that the squad comes across constantly.

"We've heard loads over the last number of years about the '80s team and the great team, and they're great fellas," he said.

"They're always coming and going and supporting the team. A lot of them come to the training ground so it is in our faces that way and it's a good challenge.

"It's something our group are looking forward to try and emulate and go on maybe one more. But the focus has to be on the daily stuff and making sure the standards are where they are and they don't slip because that's the most important."

McPhail said the club was satisfied with the business they were able to do over the winter. While Andy Lyons, Aidomo Emakhu and Barry Cotter have departed, in their place have come Liam Burt, Markus Poom, Johnny Kenny and Trevor Clarke - the latter three on loan.

"Time will tell but we've got four