WATCH: McAlinden - 'I have a Great Escape plan for Carrick in league'
BetMcLean Football Show now available to view in full on Cool FM Facebook page
Last updated 9th Mar 2018
Carrick Rangers boss Davy McAlinden has shrugged off fears of the drop as he plans his side’s Great Escape in the league.
Carrick are sitting 11th in the Danske Bank Premiership – seven points ahead of Ballinamallard.
McAlinden says they have a clear target in mind but he is ready for a play-off.
Speaking as a guest on our BetMcLean Football show, now available to view in full on Cool FM’s Facebook page (see below), he said:
"Our plan is to finish tenth. Ards have dragged themselves out, and they're no longer involved, so it's between ourselves, Warrenpoint and Ballinamallard,”
“My aim now is not to worry about the Championship. We finish tenth and we won't have to worry about the scout reports we get every week. But we have to plan ahead, and we will do that and we will cover every eventuality."
McAlinden, who was guesting with Linfield captain, Jamie Mulgrew, also believes the club has been boosted by 10th place Warrenpoint losing Matthew Tipton.
He said: "It'll be interesting to see how that settled down because for me Tippy is one of the brightest managers and I think it will no doubt be a loss to Warrenpoint. However, if we focus on ourselves then it won't matter what the other teams do."
On the thorny issue of referees, McAlinden adds: “I've no problem with people making errors, and I never have. It's just the relationship between ourselves as managers and players - it could be miles better.
"Ultimately everyone makes wrong choices. I've made them as a manager, I've made plenty as a player. I've had cups of tea with Davy Malcolm, David Best, and Davy Redfearn. I'd like that relationship with players and managers to come back again. It's not there anymore and that's a negative thing for the league."