McAree: "We need to come back stronger and fitter"

Still riding high on their cup success, we took a trip to the Stangmore showgrounds to see what's in store for the team for the new season.

And McAree told us they'll be giving it their all - especially to get another taste of that cup victory.

He said:

"I believe in the players, in what they can give back to Dungannon Swifts and in what they can give back to me.

"I believe it's achievable, I believe we can go better than last season 8th and I would love another cup. Whether it's going to be in the next year or so, I don't know - but we'll be doing our damnedest to try and achieve it.

"The cup success was a massive achievement and it gives us great belief going forward, creating a little bit of history."

"It was an occasion we could really savour and really enjoy, and to see the smiles on the faces of people around the club, that's been the biggest achievement by Dungannon Swifts."

Rodney also told us that he's given his players targets to hit by the time pre season starts.

"We want to be fitter and we want to be stronger. We want to be more competitive. We want to challenge ourselves against the big boys a little bit more than we did last season. We need to pick up more points against the top 5 sides in the country.

"On any given day we can be better than the opposition, but over the course of a season we have to make sure that we get a little bit more momentum and flow in our performances and back results together as we go through the season."

"We could have done better (last season). We let slip a lot of points, we conceded poor goals, and we didn't score enough goals. In terms of our league form, I was a little bit disappointed but over the course of the season, and you lift a cup, it has to be very satisfactory."

Dungannon swifts finished 8th in the Danske Bank Premiership this season - but McAree told us their sights are now firmly set on moving up the table and into Europe.

"We have a European license so it gives us something to target. Obviously some European glory would be something special but whenever you look at the teams competing for it outside of Crusaders and Coleraine. You have Linfield, Glentoran, Ballymena, Cliftonville and Glenavon.

"We've done extremely well over these past few years, we have to remember where we are and who we are. Our budget never changes. It's not like we have an influx of money coming into the club and we can sign the top players in the country."

"Thankfully it hasn't been like last year where we lost Andrew Mitchell, who had scored 25 goals for us. It's vital for us to hold on to our best players and we can gain a little bit of momentum going into next season by adding one or two more quality players."

And we also asked him on his thoughts on going full time -

"I believe everyone has to go full time for it to be a success, but I don't think Dungannon Swifts are in that area. I would love to be coaching on a full-time basis. Maybe that opportunity comes about elsewhere but at this moment in time not at Dungannon."

Dungannon Swifts has always been known for its community spirit and club involvement, and Rodney thanked everyone who helped out.

"We depend massively on volunteers. Guys who work the car park, cut the grass, help maintain the grounds. It takes a massive effort by everybody. Thankfully we have a good band of people who are willing to come on board and get their hands dirty."

• dungannon swifts fc
• rodney mcaree
• football ni
• Danske Bank Premiership