Waterford blinkers on with promotion shot 'only option', says Danny Searle

Danny Searle says the "only option" for Waterford is to target automatic promotion after missing out on a spot in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division at the final hurdle of last season's playoffs.

The Englishman took over a few weeks after Ian Morris' April 2022 departure and the Blues finished the season strongly in the second tier as well as reaching the FAI Cup semi-finals.

But after navigating their way to a promotion/relegation play-off final against UCD, it was the Students who prevailed and retained their Premier Division status at the expense of Waterford.

Searle remains in charge at the RSC and speaking to RTÉ Sport at the launch of the new League of Ireland season in Dublin's City Hall, the former Aldershot Town manager was blunt about where the club needs to get to by the end of this campaign.

"That's the only option and it's not being involved in it, it's getting promoted. That's the only option," he said.

"We have to do the work on and off the field to make sure we create the best opportunity for ourselves to do that."

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Searle, who will be working closely with former Republic of Ireland striker Jon Walters who has taken on the technical director role at both Waterford and sister club Fleetwood Town, believes the foundations from last season will be vital going forwards.

"It's an interesting one because when I came in, the club was in an interesting position, not just from a league position perspective but the whole environment," he said, adding that he was