ALAN Reynolds revealed he plans to strengthen Bohemians in order to make them title challengers — just not with a title challenger’s budget.
Bohs moved up to second place on Monday night with their third win of their season against league leaders Shamrock Rovers.
It leaves them nine points behind the Hoops with two games in hand and one more meeting with the Dublin rivals they keep on beating.
But Rennie insisted that it is too early to call his side — that had lost five of their opening seven games before winning ten of the last 14 — title challengers after their 2-0 win.
The gaffer said: “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it. I know you want to hear, ‘We’re challengers’, but what, are we nine points behind them?
“Give me another couple of months and I’ll tell you. We lost to Waterford on Friday, so we can’t afford to drop too many points.”
But with the transfer window opening next week, Reynolds is in the market to strengthen his squad — particularly after the departure of loan defender Seán Grehan to parent club Crystal Palace.
Yet he acknowledged that his budget is tight, with the Phibsborough club preparing for life away from Dalymount Park when it is redeveloped — most likely begin in 2027.
Reynolds said: “Well, we’ll try and flex our muscles a bit, but they have to be the right players. But we can’t get into the market with some of the clubs here. That’s the problem.
“I spoke to players over the off-season . . . close to coming, next minute, between whatever, an hour or two, somebody makes a call, and we’re blown out of the water. So that’s the way it is.”
Reynolds’ squad should be strengthened by the return to fitness of Connor Parsons this week, though Alex Lacey will be out for another month.
And striker Lys Mousset is not available due to a hamstring injury but Reynolds explained he still has work to do to gain full fitness.
The gaffer is pleased with where his side are and hailed their first half against Rovers — when they went 2-0 up — as their best 45 minutes in years.
And that is not just his view, but the view of coach and former defender Derek Pender — now in his 13th year at Dalymount.
NEVER IN 13 YEARS
Reynolds said: “He said he hasn’t seen such a good 45 and he’s here a long time. I thought it was the best I’ve seen us without the ball but I’m not surprised.
“It’s about consistency because it’s hard to play like that in every game to be fair.
“Not many teams play like Shamrock Rovers either so you must have a game-plan for them.
“All credit to us. I know Rovers are outstanding but we looked a proper team.”
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley agreed that Bohemians were good but his side did not meet their standards.
Bradley said: “First half we were miles off the game, a million miles off what’s required in any game but especially in this type of game.
“So as a result, they were two-up and could have been three or four to be honest, we were that far off the level but that’s football, that’s Dublin derbies.
“You’ve got to credit Bohs, they were good but we were a million miles off it. You don’t win games of football in this league if you’re that far off the levels.”
BOHS ARE BACK IN TOWN
The victory continued Bohemians’ remarkable turnaround this season following a slow start that had fans calling for Reynolds’ head.
The boss always had the support of the players with Ross Tierney celebrating a goal against Sligo Rovers that kick-started their recovery by running to his manager.
But the supporters’ backing has come more recently and Tierney was the one pushing his manager forward to get the acclaim from the Jodi Stand on Monday night.
Reynolds said: “I think that’s a running joke, you see, because of what was going on here before. But hey, look, we enjoyed the moment. And if you can’t enjoy news like this, what’s the point?
“So I know our relationship has been fractured at times, but look, we’re in a good place now.
“I think the dressing room is really good, and I don’t have any doubts that the dressing room’s been behind me, even last year, when the results weren’t going well.
“We’re a good, solid group and staff are really tight, so I don’t doubt that. We’re tight with all players. We care about them, but they see what we’re trying to do.
“I’m sure if Ross Tierney thought I wasn’t good at my job or I wasn’t giving them proper information, he wouldn’t be long telling me that either.”
