'Not mission impossible but needs a miracle': Coughlan lays out Waterford rescue mission

MIRACLE MAN? Graham Coughlan. Pic: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

New Waterford manager Graham Coughlan believes he’s the man to deliver the ‘miracle’ necessary to retain the bottom team’s Premier Division survival.

The club’s Fleetwood Town ownership group acted within four days of sacking Jon Daly by appointing fellow Dubliner Coughlan, who has previously led Bristol Rovers, Mansfield Town, Newport County and Boston United.

His feat with the latter of avoiding relegation from the national league last season bolstered his credentials for replicating the mission at the RSC.

Waterford are marooned at the bottom by nine points heading into Coughlan’s first match at the helm, away to second-placed St Patrick’s Athletic.

“It’s a massive, massive challenge because we’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb but I believe we can climb it,” the ex-Sheffield Wednesday centre-back said after taking his first training session at the SETU arena on Wednesday morning.

“I’ve been in situations like this before where we were 10 or 11 points behind at Boston, similar at Newport and a smaller gap at Bristol Rovers.

“I don’t know how I end up in these situations. I’m a devil for punishment and can’t say no to these opportunities.

“It’s not mission impossible but would be a miracle – a nice miracle.” The 51-year-old isn’t naïve to predict a managerial bounce alone can dodge the drop with 22 games remaining.

“The team have had good patches but matches are over 90 minutes,” he affirmed.

“As I said to the players when I met them, football is about moments; taking your moments and nullifying your opponents’ moments.

“Once the players cross the white line, sometimes the occasion, fans or arena gets to a few lads. Nerves and small things creep in. It’s up to us to try help them grow and develop.

“I’d like them to shift their mindset, to be stronger mentally and physically.

“The aim is to restore pride by growing little acorns but talk is cheap.

“We can’t be worrying about the opposition. The LOI has gotten stronger in recent years with really good players and managers but it has to be about what we can do to the opposition.” 

They travel to Inchicore seeking a first win of the season buoyed with Monday’s comeback 3-3 draw against Dundalk.

“That can be a confidence booster because coming from two goals behind shows a resilient trait,” added Coughlan.

“It could end like the Scottish Premiership split, with a mini-league within the league. Finishing third from bottom, avoiding the playoff, would be the first aim.”