Quinn will bring fresh ideas and a new approach says Anderson

Whitey and John first came together to help establish a youth football structure at Ballinamallard in the 1990s when Premier League status seemed an impossible dream, but the pair will now be working in tandem to build a team to challenge the best clubs in the country.

“I’m glad John has agreed to come back,” said Whitey. “I think it can only be good for all of us to have him involved. John joined when I did 30 odd years ago and together we played a big part in reforming the mini soccer at the club. I wasn’t sure if John would come back but I asked him what his thoughts were because he has a lot of experience. He has this club at heart and he knows it inside out, and having spoken to him he has some good ideas. A new approach and new ideas are always welcome so I’m glad he is returning. He had to consider his position but at the end of the day I am glad he is getting the opportunity to be involved at Premier League level because he was an integral part of the club over the years.” John has worked at almost every level during his time at Ballinamallard and only two seasons ago led the second team to the NIFL Reserve League Championship, but despite his familiarity with the club, the squad of players he will return to will have a very different look to it from the side he left in 2013.

“It’s strange because the squad we have pulled together at the present time contains a lot of players that would not have worked with John,” said Whitey. “With all the players we have brought in we are going to have to introduce everyone to each other this season because it is really a new squad in many respects. From the one that played in the premier league three years ago it would be interesting to see how many of the starting line-up is still there. There might be one or two at the most. There have certainly been a lot of changes.” Whitey has been busy in recent weeks having brought in four players since the end of the season, and he is hoping to add one more member to his coaching staff as well as another first team player before the start of the new campaign. “We are looking at the possibility of bringing in someone else to the backroom team, but that is work in progress at the moment,” said Whitey. “We will wait and see what happens over the next few days. We are very close to all our business being done for players. We will probably invite a few people to pre-season and take it from there and see what way it pans out over the first few weeks. There is probably one position we are looking covered better than what we have, but we are happy with the business we have done so far.” One player who has signed this week is goalkeeper Alvin Rouse. The big shot stopper was a fan favourite at the club in his first stint at Ballinamallard, and Whitey is hopeful he can recapture the form that made him one of the league’s top keepers in the Mallards debut campaign in the top flight.

“It is good to get Alvin back involved again,” said Whitey. “We all know he played a big part in our first season and had 18 clean sheets. He was one of the three best keepers in the league and at 35 years he still has time on his side because he is still young for a goalkeeper. He brings a lot of experience and presence. I think he would admit himself he lost his hunger and appetite for the game a bit but he has rekindled that again and he is going to bring a lot to the table.” Whitey Anderson and John Quinn will be reunited on the touchline next season after Ballinamallard confirmed that Quinn has been appointed to Anderson’s backroom team, replacing the departing Brian Khan.

Whitey and John first came together to help establish a youth football structure at Ballinamallard in the 1990s when Premier League status seemed an impossible dream, but the pair will now be working in tandem to build a team to challenge the best clubs in the country.

“I’m glad John has agreed to come back,” said Whitey. “I think it can only be good for all of us to have him involved. John joined when I did 30 odd years ago and together we played a big part in reforming the mini soccer at the club. I wasn’t sure if John would come back but I asked him what his thoughts were because he has a lot of experience. He has this club at heart and he knows it inside out, and having spoken to him he has some good ideas. A new approach and new ideas are always welcome so I’m glad he is returning. He had to consider his position but at the end of the day I am glad he is getting the opportunity to be involved at Premier League level because he was an integral part of the club over the years.” John has worked at almost every level during his time at Ballinamallard and only two seasons ago led the second team to the NIFL Reserve League Championship, but despite his familiarity with the club, the squad of players he will return to will have a very different look to it from the side he left in 2013.

“It’s strange because the squad we have pulled together at the present time contains a lot of players that would not have worked with John,” said Whitey. “With all the players we have brought in we are going to have to introduce everyone to each other this season because it is really a new squad in many respects. From the one that played in the premier league three years ago it would be interesting to see how many of the starting line-up is still there. There might be one or two at the most. There have certainly been a lot of changes.” Whitey has been busy in recent weeks having brought in four players since the end of the season, and he is hoping to add one more member to his coaching staff as well as another first team player before the start of the new campaign. “We are looking at the possibility of bringing in someone else to the backroom team, but that is work in progress at the moment,” said Whitey. “We will wait and see what happens over the next few days. We are very close to all our business being done for players. We will probably invite a few people to pre-season and take it from there and see what way it pans out over the first few weeks. There is probably one position we are looking covered better than what we have, but we are happy with the business we have done so far.” One player who has signed this week is goalkeeper Alvin Rouse. The big shot stopper was a fan favourite at the club in his first stint at Ballinamallard, and Whitey is hopeful he can recapture the form that made him one of the league’s top keepers in the Mallards debut campaign in the top flight.

“It is good to get Alvin back involved again,” said Whitey. “We all know he played a big part in our first season and had 18 clean sheets. He was one of the three best keepers in the league and at 35 years he still has time on his side because he is still young for a goalkeeper. He brings a lot of experience and presence. I think he would admit himself he lost his hunger and appetite for the game a bit but he has rekindled that again and he is going to bring a lot to the table.”