[ad_1]
Regardless of what happened against Cavan at the Ulster SFC last weekend, Lenny Harbinson had made the decision to step down from his role as Antrim’s senior soccer manager.
“We were not promoted from Division 4 this year and we just missed it last year and I have to take responsibility for that,” he says.
“I was there for three years, with a brilliant back-room team, and we didn’t get promoted in that time. That will be what partly defines my legacy as Antrim manager, fairly or not.
“Once we didn’t get promoted to the league, no matter what happened in the Championship, I was going to step aside.
“Someone else has to come in and take it now and drive it. They have to.”
“I was very aware of the challenge ahead, but I felt that the core of our panel was enough to make us competitive.”
It wasn’t out of wanting to try that they didn’t level up.
In his first year in charge of the team, Harbinson placed a great emphasis on strength and conditioning and on bringing the team up to speed with the intense and rigorous demands of the modern game.
They are estimated to have trained 150 times in the first season alone, training four to five nights a week since they started in October and dwindling for the league and championship as the year progressed.
He felt they were behind the gang, but there was great satisfaction in watching the players catch up with what he threw at them.
“We were close to winning promotion in years two and three, we came out on the wrong side of close results, but the sport is full of what if and many coaches could say something similar.
“We worked very hard. Ever since I was a footballer at St Galls, it was always my aspiration to play for my county and I did it for 12 years, whether it was in Division 2A or 2B at the time. The goal then was to climb from the lower level as well. .
“Then when I took over as manager we had a huge challenge with a lot of work going on behind the scenes in terms of development, what we were doing and what we weren’t doing as a county.
“I was very aware of the challenge ahead, but I felt that the core of our panel was enough to make us competitive.
“Ultimately, for Antrim to improve and be consistent we have to reach a higher level than Division 4, one that improves the players. And in the three years I was with them, we couldn’t do that.
“Against Cavan we sometimes had opportunities to win the game, opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of and we were neglected, giving the ball away. At that level they punish you and we need more exposure at that higher level to help ensure more consistency.”
A 2019 qualifying road win against Louth was his most impressive championship outing during Harbinson’s time in charge, even if there were Ulster losses to Down, Tyrone and Cavan.
But he felt there was always progression. And the first days of his tenure were simply to reset the dial.
“Getting the basics, stats and analysis right – the modern player demands that. Making sure the logistics are correct, especially for away games. Arriving on time for training, having all the correct facilities and equipment,” he says .
“Feeding the team information on opponents, teams and referees, that was the environment we wanted, and I think we established a good foundation.”
“The next person who takes the job should come in now and add another dimension because no county will sit still, so neither can we.”
Harbinson works in a business environment where he leads a sales team and encourages his colleagues to recognize what was good and challenge what was not in their professional roles.
He adapted a similar framework to his leadership role at Antrim.
“I really wanted to do that,” he said. “I tried to bring that into the football setup. There is no straight line in life, and we needed to work towards the next challenge that was coming.
“The players could give their opinion at any time.
“For example, in the first year we trained four or five times a week because we were behind in some areas.
“This year we had reduced it to only come out three times a week, but with double sessions included. Strength and conditioning before a throwing session, for example.
“We said to the players, ‘here’s the compromise,’ and we condensed it so they weren’t on the road all the time.
“The whole time the expectation from Antrim fans was that we would get a promotion, and maybe at least a sunny day in the championship. We were always aware of that and that’s why it hurts when we don’t get to Division 3. You compromise it. all the.”
“My opinion is that we don’t need Mickey Mouse competitions like the O’Byrne Cup or the McKenna Cup; they should be eliminated.”
It will no longer be his concern, but Harbinson would like to see a properly structured and marketed Tailteann Cup to help counties like his progress.
“I see Cork with a last-minute winner at the weekend and that’s what the knockout is all about.” That’s fine with Cork and Kerry, fair play for them, because they both have great stories to lean on. But I remember my 12 years as a player with Antrim and a lot of the time we played a game and went straight out year after year.
“Was that of any benefit to Antrim? No.
“My opinion is that we don’t need Mickey Mouse competitions like the O’Byrne Cup or the McKenna Cup; they should be eliminated.
“The league is fair, the teams are in divisions they deserve to be in and that’s what’s difficult and fast.
“Regarding a second tier system, will it be properly funded? Will there be television exposure? What will public relations be like around it? Can it be a ladder back to the main championship?
“Once the answer to the above questions is ‘yes’ then we should be happy to compete, to have a chance.”
[ad_2]