Limerick travel to basement Bray

Bray Wanderers v Derry City - Airtricity League Premier DivisionLIMERICK FC make the trip to the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday October 13 to take on Bray Wanderers, who are currently bottom of the Airtricity League Premier Division.

While the Super Blues are in an ideal mid-table position entering the final three games of the season, Bray are fighting for their top flight lives. Indeed Limerick may yet have a massive say in the relegation picture as their following match sees them host Shelbourne, who are above Bray on goal difference only, on Wednesday October 16 at Thomond Park in their final home game of 2013.

Limerick’s two previous encounters with the Seagulls this season have been high-scoring affairs, with the Super Blues racking up a 4-0 win in the Wicklow town in April and the teams playing out a 4-4 draw at Thomond Park in July.

Manager Stuart Taylor is looking for his players to maintain the excellent form that has seen them win their last three games through to the season’s end.

“We know how to approach it and the motivation for ourselves is to finish above Cork in sixth place. That’s our motivation and it’s not changed since we sat here after the Cork game the last time. We said that we wanted to finish above them in sixth. We’re still in that position mentally.

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“It doesn’t take a lot to motivate the players that we’ve got. We’re not a club who just walk out, play the game and get by the 90 minutes for the sake of playing 90 minutes. We’re not that way at all and I don’t want that mentality to creep into the squad. We want to win every single game we play.

“We were stuck on 29 points for quite a bit and then as soon as we got into the 30s we’re nearly back out of them again. The last couple of weeks was great in that respect so we’re looking to get into the 40s now. That’s another motivation for us and to get 40+ points by the end of the season is a great achievement.”

As well as concentrating on a strong finish to this season, Taylor also has an eye on 2014 as he seeks to tie down contracts for players. Danny Galbraith, Craig Curran and Robbie Williams will all be under contract for next season and the manager is keen to get down to business sooner rather than later, emphasising the importance of the players’ futures.

“I’m looking to sit down with the boys later in the week or maybe next week to let them know what my intentions would be. I don’t believe in doing it at the end of the season. I’d like to be honest with people and give them an opportunity if they’re not at the club, or if they’re getting a new contract they can be a step ahead of other people.

“I know clubs leave it until after the last game of the season; personally I don’t think that’s right because it’s their livelihoods and their jobs. The sooner they know, the better it is for them and their families.

“Also for us it’s good to tie up the players that we want to keep so that we can be a step ahead in the market and we can start looking to snap up the players that we’ve got targeted. I’m looking to do my business early this year and I think it’s right to look after your own players, who in my opinion have done a great job this season. I’ll be looking after them first and foremost.”

He added that having to tell a player that their contract won’t be renewed is one of the toughest aspects of management, saying: “It’s what I call the ugly part and the horrible part of the job. It’s not nice, especially when you’ve got players who have done brilliantly for you.”

Taylor also said that the players will remain on the field for 15 minutes after the Shelbourne game to thank the fans for their support throughout the season. Kick-off in Thomond Park on Wednesday October 16 is at 7:45pm.

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