Haveron: Our target is to be crowned champions

Carrick Rangers manager Gary Haveron. Photo: Presseye

They’ll go out to win every game and the ultimate target is to end up as champions.

“I have always viewed myself and my team as winners and we will enter the season with winning the title and securing promotion to the top division as our target. It’s a tall order and we accept that, but there is no point in going into the season with anything less ambitious as your goal,” said the Carrick manager.

“It will be a lot harder to win the league this season than it has been for a long time because so many teams have strengthened their squads and the competition week on week will be fierce. But we have a tremendous squad and we must have as good a chance as any other team.

“I believe Ards are most people’s favourites to be champions. They were relegated and are clearly planning on returning to the top flight immediately. They have signed a whole host of players and will be very difficult to beat.

“Loughgall are interesting contenders as well. They ... have recruited a lot of quality players as well and they obviously mean business.

“And Bangor would be the other team I feel will prove to be the other chief rivals for the league trophy. They look to be a really strong side and will surely do well.

“No disrespect to the other clubs, but I think those mentioned are the pick of the title contenders, albeit with plenty of others also in with a chance of causing problems along the way.

“Harland & Wolff Welders had a fantastic second half to last season under Gary Smyth and I think they will continue to get better and be a match for most, while Steel and Sons Cup champions Dundela will be tough nuts to crack. Knockbreda could also be in the picture because they have signed a lot of players to replace those who have departed.

“But there are 13 rivals for every club and there will be no easy pickings in terms of collecting the points needed to stay at the forefront of Championship ambitions. Every match will be tough in its own right and momentum is necessary right from the off against Donegal Celtic.”