Bray Wanderers boss Gary Cronin: 'Our focus will be on winning the league - we're no different to the other teams around us'

Bray Wanderers boss Gary Cronin admits that he and his side will be eyeing the 2021 First Division league title. 

The Seagulls come into the 2021 season after being pipped to promotion at the expense of title rivals Drogheda United last season.

Cronin's charges were in pole position to seal promotion back to the top-flight before their penultimate game of the season – which they lost against Galway United.

They would lose against Tribesmen again in a playoff a week later. With that in mind, the Bray boss is hoping that his side can push on this term.

"We finished a kick of a ball away from winning the league last year," the 41-year-old recalls. "You always want to improve, and that will be our aim.

"We're no different to anyone else, but if we ended up in a playoff situation again, it's important that we have enough depth in our squad because with two injuries before the playoff, we were weakened.

"Winning through the playoffs would also be an improvement. But look, let's be honest – our focus will be on winning the league. We're no different to the teams around us."

During the transfer window, Cronin made some impressive signings – recruiting two former Irish underage internationals in Richie O'Farrell and Steven Kinsella.

Also, the Seagulls have signed Mark Byrne, Conor Clifford and Shamrock Rovers loanee Brandon Kavanagh.

"I think we lacked a little bit of experience last year," the Bray boss explains.

"We brought in Mark (Byrne) and Conor Clifford, who will be big players for us. But we have brought in good, young and talented players.

"We had a good squad last year, but we just needed to make some slight changes.

"If you look at the competition in the league, all the teams in there will be thinking they can get in the top half of the table so it will be a tough division."

For all the new arrivals this term – Cronin is expected to be without the services of experienced campaigner Paul Keegan who has yet to re-sign.

"Paul is at that stage of the career where he has not officially retired," he said.

"He still has a lot to offer the game in a playing capacity or beyond. We'd love to use his qualities, but we need to make sure the circumstances are right."

Bray Wanderers begin their 2021 season with a home clash against league new boys Treaty United.

However, Cronin only learned of who his side would play on February 20th, just over a month before the league was due to begin.

"Treaty signed some good players, and I know Tommy well. I would have spoken to Tommy a lot during the off-season.

"I'm delighted that there's football back in Limerick. That's nothing against the teams that didn't get in."

But he does admit that he would have liked to have seen a decision made earlier – with clubs not knowing if they were accepted into the league until a few days before the transfer window shut.

"It's frustrating each year," he adds. "We probably need the decisions made earlier.

"I don't know what's going on in the background, and I'm sure there's reasons why decisions were made late.

"We're used to adapting. I know it would have been difficult for Tommy, with two days to go to a window closing having to sign a lot of players.

"It's not ideal, but we have to adapt and get on with it. Hopefully, that's behind us now when we start on the 26^th."