David Healy: I'll never win round some Linfield fans

The former Northern Ireland international is on course for back-to-back Danske Bank Premiership titles with the Blues after they opened up a seven-point gap at the summit following their 4-0 demolition of Crusaders on Friday night.

Speaking candidly after the game Healy admitted he fears failure but added he does not worry about other people's opinions.

He said: "There are supporters at Linfield that I will never win over. I don't know why, I can't understand.

"Every day I come to Linfield I give more than 100 per cent. I'm more committed to the football club probably more than I was when I first arrived.

"I'm more committed to the development of the younger players. I'm hands on with the Under-20s, Under-18s, 16s 15, 14s and down.

"I probably know 95% of the younger players' names in and around the Academy.

"I want to see the club thrive but there's probably a section of Linfield people who will probably never accept me as manager.

"I don't lie awake at night worrying about other people's opinions. I worry about what I can do and affect.

"The longer I'm in the job here maybe some might be swayed one way or the other. That's football everyone has an opinion.

"Do I fear the sack? Absolutely not. Fear of failure yes. If I got sacked tonight, I could walk away with my head held high and my chest puffed out and say I've won two league titles, an Irish Cup a Co Antrim and a League Cup.

"We were within an away goal of qualifying for something probably never on the agenda of an Irish League club – Europa League group stages – so if I was sacked tomorrow, do I fear it? Absolutely not. It's football, it's life, I understand it.

"As a player I was sold, I was loaned, I was transferred, I was bombed, I was training, I had a number at Fulham was taken off me because we brought another centre forward in – probably on more money and more high profile – so as a player, I've had all that.

"Do I fear failure? Absolutely. Like anyone in life, they fear being talked about as a failure, a line that says 'Healy-failure', but do I fear the sack? Absolutely not."