‘Respect everyone, fear no one’ – Mullen ready to make his mark at Rathfriland

THE former Newry City manager was unveiled as Ally Wilson’s successor this week, returning to the dugout after an 18-month absence from management.

Mullen will be joined by former Manchester United player Pat McGibbon, whom he describes as a key appointment, as Rathfriland look to build on three wins in their last four league games and establish themselves in the Championship.

The 54-year-old admitted a return to management had not been on the cards when he first considered getting involved in football again, but conversations with the Rathfriland hierarchy convinced him the opportunity was worth taking. "I wasn’t in any rush to get back into it,” he said.

“I was interested in getting back into the coaching side of things. I’d been dipping in and out of it for the last while, and I missed it more and more.

“It came out of the blue. I spoke with the Rathfriland lads on Saturday, heard what they had to say, and I suppose they sold the club to me.

“It’s a local club, it’s playing at a good level and it’s an opportunity to get back in, so there was a lot about it that appealed to me. I thought if I don’t jump in now, I might never.”

Mullen's first task is to make sure Rathfriland can maintain their Championship status in an increasingly competitive division, with the league set to be reduced from 16 clubs to 12 over the coming seasons.

He is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, but believes the squad has the ability to make an impression after watching the side in Tuesday night’s Mid Ulster Cup tie against Annagh United.

“I think there is enough in this side to make us competitive in the league,” he said.“I’ve every confidence to go in and do well. Everybody now has the opportunity to impress myself and Pat, and then we’ll see what’s needed.”

Mullen was also quick to acknowledge the work of Wilson, who departed after five-and-a-half years in charge during which Rathfriland enjoyed the most successful period in their history, winning promotion from the NAFL Premier Division through the NIFL Premier Intermediate League and into the Championship.

Having experienced the demands of climbing the Irish League pyramid himself with Newry City, Mullen knows the work required to take a club forward.

“It’s very important to acknowledge what Ally has done there,” he said.

“It’s not easy. I’ve had my own journey through the ranks and it’s far from easy, so Ally deserves huge credit for taking the club to where they are.

“He deserves every plaudit.”

Mullen’s own record at Newry includes two promotions to the Premiership, having helped guide the club from intermediate football to the top flight within five years of its relaunch in 2013.

He intends to bring that experience to Iveagh Park, particularly in helping players adjust to the demands of Championship football without allowing the pressure to undermine their performances.

“We went in with the mentality over the years of having no fear. We’ll be taking that into Rathfriland – respect everyone but fear no one,” he said.

The new manager believes players who have recently stepped up a division can sometimes become inhibited by the fear of not being good enough.

His priority is to remove those doubts and allow the squad to play with confidence.

"Sometimes, if you’ve just come up, you can have that bit of inhibition or fear that you might not be good enough at this level,” he said.

“To remove any of that and let the lads go and enjoy their football is important. Sometimes there is too much pressure on players and teams. Football should be about enjoying it.

“If I can get lads to enjoy their football, then I’m going to get the best out of them.”

That approach will also influence the style of football Mullen wants to introduce. He has been encouraged by the technical ability within the squad and hopes to give supporters a side capable of playing attractive football, while remaining adaptable to the demands of individual games.

“As a coach, I’ve always wanted my teams to play football as much as possible in the Irish League,” he said.

“There’s enough talent in here to build something and play in the right manner, and to give the fans something to enjoy.

“It will certainly not be route one. There’s a time and place for it, but there’s enough talent in here to take what I want to do from the training pitch into games.”

McGibbon's presence alongside him will be central to that process. The pair have known each other for more than a decade, having worked together at Newry in 2012, and Mullen said having the right assistant was a condition of accepting the job.

“Hugely important,” he said. “To be honest, if I didn’t get the right man in beside me, I wouldn’t have taken the role.

“It’s vital to have someone beside you that you can trust. I was very, very lucky to have that over the years with the lads I had at Newry.

“It’s come full circle. I was part of Pat’s coaching team at Newry back in 2012, and now Pat’s involved with me at Rathfriland.”

Mullen described McGibbon as one of the nicest men in football, adding that his knowledge and experience would be a major asset to the players.

With three wins from their last four league matches, Rathfriland have given themselves some breathing space in the battle for survival. Mullen, however, is not setting targets beyond the immediate task of preparing for Saturday’s trip to Dundela.

“I want Rathfriland to be as high as possible in the league and we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

“I’m not going to set any unrealistic targets. We’re just going to go in and be as competitive as possible and take it from there.

“Just go in, try to beat Dundela and then move on to the next game. I know it’s a bit of a cliché and it doesn’t make headlines, but that’s the reality. When you take your eye off the next game, you can become unstuck.”

Beyond the immediate results, Mullen is keen to see the club's support grow as Rathfriland look to establish themselves at Championship level.

He believes the players and supporters have a shared role in making Iveagh Park a difficult place for visiting teams, with the atmosphere generated from the stands helping drive the team forward.

“Rathfriland have a loyal bunch of supporters, but I think there is more that we can add to it if we can create a winning team and an atmosphere where fans will want to come, want to come back and bring others with them,” he said.“

Myself and the players can only do so much, but you can’t do it without fans.”Mullen's return to management may have come sooner than expected, but he is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

For now, the focus is firmly on Dundela and the points needed to secure Rathfriland's future in the Championship.