Newly appointed Ballinamallard manager Tommy Canning believes “hard work, energy and commitment” will be the key to success, as the Mallards begin a new era under the guidance of the former Dergview boss.

Canning was introduced to the squad at training on Tuesday evening, and has called on his players and staff to give their all as he looks to guide the club up the Championship table.

“Hard work, energy, commitment – regardless of what our formation is, regardless of what our set up is, they are the core conditions. They are the non-negotiables.

“They are the things that I need to bring as a manager, the staff need to bring, and most importantly the players need to bring to training and to the games.”

Canning takes over with Ballinamallard ninth in the NIFL Championship table, and the new boss is aware that getting a fast start will be vital to their season.

“It is evident that where we sit in the table is not acceptable and not good enough, and that needs to change,” he acknowledged.

‘Pedigree’

“The club are ambitious. They have a pedigree of being in the Irish league and I think that that is where the club wants to be. That will take time, and that will take work and energy, and a bit of recruitment and stability, to begin to push again and try to achieve the dream of being back in the Irish league.

“The initial target is to continue on the run that the club has been on over the last five games. We have been undefeated in the last five games, which in itself is a big thing in the Championship. That is the short-term target.

“We need to push up the league and get more points on the board and get ourselves into the New Year and reassess where we are at. At that stage, you have two sets of fixtures played and you can have a real sense of what your aims and targets are.”

The former Dergview boss admits he will not have a fixed style of play, but rather he will focus on what he believes gives the team the best chance of victory.

“What I am really about is three points, and how we get that may change from game to game depending on who we are playing and maybe the state we are in as a team,” he said.

“In terms of formation, it is a puzzle that needs to be solved and it is my job to get the pieces together to put them in the right place to solve that puzzle.”

Valuable insight

Canning spent over two years as Dergview manager and amassed an impressive record against Ballinamallard in that time, losing only two of his 10 derby games. He believes those contests have given him a valuable insight into the club and helped shape his decision to apply for the vacant manager’s position.

“I am really familiar with Ballinamallard,” he stated. “I know the club as much as you can from the outside and I think a whole lot of what the club does speaks for itself.

“The opportunity to manage in the Championship and manage a football club with the pedigree and history that Ballinamallard have, and the facilities that Ballinamallard have, and how the club is run, all of those things are of interest to me.”

On the pitch, he is also familiar with the players within the squad.

“There are very few of them that I don’t know anything about. There are some of them that are new for this season, the likes of James McGrath, but I have seen him up close when I was managing Dergview when we played against him this season.

“The rest of the boys I know, and some of them I have worked with before. I am aware of some of the young players that are coming through, so I have a fair grasp on the squad that is there.

“What needs to happen now is the development of the relationships between me as the manager and them as players. The individual relationships we need to build, the sense of trust, and that just takes time. We will figure that out in the coming weeks.

“All of the players that are there, whether they are established players or young players coming through, now have an opportunity and have a clean slate where they can put a marker down.

“There will be no comings and goings until January, if there is even any then, so everybody has an opportunity. It is with them now whether they become part of the long-term plans for Ballinamallard.”

Current interim manager Mark Stafford is set to remain as part of the coaching set-up following Canning’s arrival, with the new manager delighted to be able to name the central defender as his assistant manager.

“Mark is in that transition from playing to coaching and so he is happy to begin to focus more on his coaching side of things, and I think it is a perfect fit. He knows the club inside out and he has huge respect from the players. He has huge hunger and desire in terms of his own coaching journey, and I think he will be a great fit working alongside myself.”

“For now, the rest of the staff that are there will remain. There are a couple of bits and pieces we need to look at and address and make sure everybody is happy and on the same page, but at this point in time, unless something changes, everyone will remain in place.

“I’m not one for making change for the sake of it, so those people will stay in position as long as they are happy and I am happy. At this minute in time, that will be it, along with myself. We may in the future look to appoint another coach but at the minute that is not part of our plans.”

Stafford, who has overseen back-to-back victories in his two games in charge, will be at the helm for the final time on Saturday as the Mallards travel to play Knockbreda, with Canning assuming control next week.

“I will be there (at training) on Thursday and actively take part in the session, but Mark Stafford will still look after the team for this week,” he revealed.

“There needs to be a proper transition so Mark will take the lead for the rest of this week. I will be there, and I will be in the dugout and the changing room on Saturday, but then from the following week I will begin to establish my role as the manager.”

Canning’s first game in charge will be the Ferney Park clash with promotion-chasing Dundela on Saturday, November 11, and he has called on the supporters to turn out in force and get behind the team.

“Come out and support us. Come out and back us,” he said.

“If you have been coming, then continue to keep coming. If you have maybe lapsed away and lost the drive for it, then return, because the players need you, the staff need you. The football club need everybody to get behind this team in order to help them.

“When the supporters turn up then it is up to us to give them energy, and the players also need energy from the fans. I would encourage people to come out and support the team and support the players and encourage them. Give them energy, and then it will be my responsibility to make sure the players return that.”