The Lin of duty

Cliftonville Football Club are pleased to announce Kris Lindsay’s addition to Paddy McLaughlin’s backroom team.

The former Dungannon Swifts Manager, who also enjoyed a coaching role at Glenavon, oversaw this evening’s training session at Solitude as the Reds continue their preparations for Saturday’s Danske Bank Premiership fixture with the Lurgan Blues.

Lindsay – formerly a central defender for Portadown, Larne, Linfield and Glenavon during a trophy-laden playing career – said: “It wasn’t a call I was expecting to get from Paddy but, when he spoke to me about coming to Cliftonville, it excited me.

“I enjoy working with players and there are a lot of very good ones here. It’s my job to work with them and try to improve them and hopefully pass on any help and advice I can offer.

“I had only just left Dungannon when Paddy made contact and, even though that was only two-and-a-half weeks ago, because Cliftonville haven’t lost any fixtures to the weather or Covid issues in that time, they’ve played a lot of matches. They’ve now come through that and are entering into a spell where they’re only playing on Saturdays, as opposed to the constant Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday routine. You don’t really get to do any proper work on the training pitch when you’re playing as regularly as that, so I’m coming in at a time when I’ll be able to work closely with the players each week and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Welcoming Lindsay to Solitude tonight, boss McLaughlin said: “This is something we’ve been pursuing for a few weeks now and I’m delighted to welcome Kris to the Club. He’s a top class coach and, as well as enjoying working with him, I’m sure our players will also benefit from his expertise.”