BRFC Articles

It's A Kenna Magic

What happened to Rovers' challenge for the title?

"We've had a terrible run since February, which we've been trying really hard to sort out. But unfortunately, we haven't been able to put our finger on exactly what's been going wrong."

So how has this season gone for you personally?

"I've been very happy with the way I've been playing. The gaffer put me into the right-back role, which is my natural position, and I feel I have perfomed consistently well this year."

Do you play much better at right rather than left-back?

"I prefer to play right-back because I am naturally right-footed. Basically it's the same, but if you're caught on the left-hand side you tend to think about things more than you would if you were on your right side. But it's not much more difficult."

Has Roy Hodgson's arrival made much difference?

"He's made a great deal of difference because he's come in and brought stability to the club, which we didn't have last season. Tony Parkes did a great job when he was in charge but everyone knew he didn't want the manager's job outright, so there was an air of uncertainty all last season. But Roy got everyone organised and before Christmas we were flying. It showed that we had the ability to do well within the club and, with a good man at the helm we can get results." 

Did he affect the form of Sutton and Gallacher?

"Chris and Kevin have worked very well together. They are a formidable partnership. They've got 40-odd goals between them this season, so the gaffer coming to the club has obviously been great for them."

Why did Sutton pull out of the England B team?

"I can understand his point of view. he's been bang in form and was the leading goalscorer in the league and he got overlooked, so i can sympathise with him. It's obviously down to the manager's choice but, having said that, you would expect him to go with players who are on the top of their form and I can certainly understand why Chris was so upset about it."

Are you keen to play in Europe again with Rovers?

"The season we were in the Champions League was my first taste of European football, but we did very poorly and it was a big disappointment to everyone at the club. But Europe is where it's happening and where everyone wants to play ultimately because it makes them better footballers. So the sooner we start playing more European football, the better."

How is your international  career progressing?

"My international career is motoring along quite nicely. I think people see me as one of the Republic of Ireland squad's senior player now that the manager has started bringing younger lads into the squad to replace the older players who are retiring. To be honest, we were disappointed to miss out on the World Cup Finals in the end, but hopefully we can have a decent campaign in the European Championship."

Can you qualify for the finals of the European Championships?

"We've got a tough group with Croatia and Yugoslavia in there too. Only the winners of the group qualify outright or then you're in a play-off situation. But if we get off to a half-decent start and are consistent throughout the course of the qualifying games, who knows what can happen?"

Will you be supporting England and Scotland in the World Cup Finals?

"Yes, I will. Hopefully Tim Flowers will be there, so from a personal point of view there will be interest in one of the England lads. Obviously we've got a few Scottish lads going for us to cheer on. I hope they all get a game because it will be good for the club and it will give me some added interest."