Bohs' Alan Reynolds addresses relationship with fans after Tallaght triumph

Irish Daily Mirror

21-04-2025

Alan Reynolds says he will fight on as Bohemians boss after watching his side come back from the dead to defeat bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
And the Gypsies manager dedicated the victory to the club's former player and successful manager Billy Young, who died last Thursday at the age of 87.
Remarkably, the last time that Bohs came back from at least two goals down in the League to win away from home was against the same opponents in that remarkable 2001 encounter at Morton Stadium, when the Gypsies were 4-1 down at the break.
This time they were 2-0 down after 41 minutes and, after Hoops fans serenaded Reynolds by singing 'you're getting sacked in the morning', there were plenty in the away end who might have agreed with their enemies.
The Waterford man found himself under pressure from Bohs supporters after a disappointing first round of games.
But had told his players that the second round is a clean slate, and they have responded with two wins - against Cork and Rovers - to start with, with 18-year-old Rhys Brennan grabbing the winner in the final minute of injury time after Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney's goals had dragged the visitors level.
"Ah look, it's not nice, is it? It's something that I suppose both sets of fans joined in on, so it's not nice to get," claimed Reynolds of the reception he received. But look, I've been around it long enough and as long as they're with me, the players and the staff, I'll get on with it.
"I brought the Bohs and Rovers fans together, yeah! That's a first. Yeah, they joined in on that but look, the main thing is the players. Delighted for them, and for Rhys Brennan.
"It's hard for them (the supporters), I get it, but we have to give them something to cheer. When we got the goal back, I thought they were unbelievable.
"We have to win supporters...I have to win supporters over, that's clear, and it's a fight. But I suppose I've been fighting all my life so I'll keep fighting with this."
Reynolds explained that he spoke to the players before kick-off about Young, who retained his love for the club after his long service in the dug-out.
"But look, we lost a great man, the club lost a great man, in Billy Young," said Reynolds. "He's being buried in the morning and it's something we spoke about before the game, that's a legend of the club and we spoke about him and what we wanted to do for him, so that's for him.
"I felt after 55 minutes, it started to swing. We started to get control of the game and obviously getting the goal at the right time with Dawson, an outstanding goal.
"We looked fit, we looked strong, when we got to 2-2, you're probably thinking take the draw and get out of here but Rhys Brennan comes up with a great goal at the end.
'To be beat these at Tallaght, I don't think it's been done since 2019, so to do so is great. Our season has been patchy but it's a new series now and we're two games into it and two wins, and the aim is to win on Friday again."