Irish League manager looking to keep 'driving this club forward' after narrow Linfield defeat
Newry City manager Stuart King wants his side to carry the positives from their BetMcLean Cup quarter-final run into Premier Intermediate League action with the main objective to keep “driving this club forward”.
The third-tier outfit defeated top-flight Portadown and Glenavon before narrowly losing out 3-2 against reigning Premiership champions Linfield.
Former Carrick Rangers boss King took over at the Newry Showgrounds ahead of this season after the club had suffered consecutive relegations.
Newry have moved into third spot after winning three consecutive league matches and sit one point adrift of leaders Moyola Park, who also made it to the BetMcLean Cup last-eight before being eliminated by Coleraine.
On Saturday, they travel to Banbridge Town, one of King’s former clubs who have lost all six of their league matches to date and were beaten 10-0 last time out by Dollingstown.
"100%, that's what it's all about,” he told the club’s media channel. “Our form in the league has been decent.
"I'll swap a defeat tonight to get a win on Saturday. It's the most important thing for me and the football club, we want to keep driving this club forward.
"We've a massive game which isn't going to be easy because they're building it up big style and we have to be on it."
Despite ultimately losing out due to Callumn Morrison’s brace and a second half Isaac Baird strike, King felt there were many positives to take forward.
"We definitely did (push them all the way),” he added. “It says a lot when they're bringing on Fitzy (Matthew Fitzpatrick) and Isaac Baird.
"I'm delighted with my lads, I thought we gave a real good effort, scored two goals, they're wasting time at the end, so it's all credit to my lads.
"I knew we were going to be up against it and our quality can be better at times, but I thought we gave everything and everyone should be proud of them.
"I said to myself that if I get an opportunity I'm going to bring every kid on and I got five of them on. It's brilliant for the club, reserve staff and everybody who trains every night, shows commitment and that they want to be part of it, that I can reward them with playing against the biggest club in the country."