European success helps make the Irish League even more attractive insists Nathan Rooney

Larne manager Nathan Rooney feels progress in European competition can attract players and investors to the league

Nathan Rooney believes the Irish League will benefit as a whole with the exposure clubs are getting from extended runs in European football.

Both Larne and Linfield are 180 minutes away from a play-off for the Conference League group stages.

The Invermen of course created history last season by reaching the group phase of the competition and Rooney believes clubs tasting success in Europe not only helps attract players but also investment.

Speaking ahead of their third qualifying round tie against Santa Clara the Larne boss said: “It’s massive, obviously at our club now we’ve got new ownership, they’ve got a couple of clubs in their football group, so maybe that’s what they’re thinking.

“I think when you look at the investment through the league now they see it as an attractive package.

“For me there are a lot of reasons for that. I think there’s obviously a lot of good players, young players, who can be saleable assets.

“When you look at it from a player’s point of view in terms of European football, yes, it’s always going to be the pull, because you can put yourself on a platform or a stage where you’re never going to be, unless you hit the top, top levels of the game.

“For me as a manager it’s nice to be in the company of some great managers, in terms of what they’ve done in the league as players and managers.”

Rooney made his name during his managerial spell in Gibraltar, but since moving to Northern Ireland the 35-year-old has been impressed by what he has seen here but he does feel the league doesn’t get the recognition it deserves at times.

“I don’t think the league gets the respect that it needs, and deserves,” he said.

“You look around the league and we have the National Stadium, it’s a brilliant-run stadium and you’ve got really good international players coming through.

“So yeah, we might be a little bit smaller, but at the same time there’s some top, top work going on in this division, however the more exposure we get, the better.”

Rooney is hoping for more exposure as they take on Santa Clara tonight, and he has been pleased with the effort of his squad to get them here so far.

“We’re matching these teams in terms of character and wearing our hearts on our sleeves – and that pleases me even more than playing great football sometimes,” he added.