'I jumped at the chance' : Lindsay on his move to Stangmore Park
Now he is targeting a Top Six place in Danske Bank Premiership
Kris Lindsay spelled out last night (Wednesday) exactly why he left high-flying Glenavon to become new Dungannon Swifts boss.
The 34-year-old admitted it was a huge step up from coaching at Mourneview.
But speaking to Downtown & Cool FM, Lindsay said the lure of management was just too strong.
"They're (Glenavon) flying at the minute, top of the league, scoring goals and playing really well so in that sense, yeah it was tough to leave,” he said.
“But on the other side of it, I wanted to manage. I want to work where my decision is final, and I'm the one calling the shots.
“When this opportunity came along - it's things like that you don't turn down. You can't let those opportunities pass you by. I wanted to manage so when this opportunity came I jumped at the chance.”
With the Swifts no longer bottom of the table – thanks to a superb 3-2 win over champions, Crusaders, on Tuesday night, Lindsay is challenging his new squad to break into the top half of the table.
"We're five points off Cliftonville in sixth place so we have to target that,” he said.
“At the end of the day, you want to finish in the Top Six because you want to be playing the big games come the end of the season and give yourself a chance to play in the play-offs to get that chance of European qualification."
Lindsay said he would not be changing the side’s style too much.
"I'll not be making major tweaks,” he said.
“I have my own ideas and my own way of playing, but it won't be a massive change. You can play all the nice football you want, but you need to have end product as well."
And he said he was relishing the challenge of management: “It's a challenge, and I'm excited to be working with those players.
“They're sitting 11th at the minute so we'll be looking to go on and put a run together and move as high up that table as we can."
Meanwhile, Lindsay is preparing for his first game in charge on Saturday – away to Glenavon!