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Steven Crawford

Linfield GM David Graham draws comparisons with Rangers as he takes on new role

New Linfield General Manager David Graham says he can see quite a few similarities between the Blues and his old club Rangers.

Graham quit his role as head of media relations at Ibrox back in October after almost two and a half years with the Gers.

This week he took over his new role at Windsor Park replacing Pat Fenlon.

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The Dubliner oversaw plenty of success during his tenure as the Blues lifted the league title in each of his four years in the role.

Graham says that hunger for success is similar to what he experienced during his time in Glasgow and he is keen to help Linfield progress both domestically and in Europe.

"It's just about looking every day and every week about what we can do better so we can continue to press the club forward," he said.

"With the conversations I've had so far I've been really impressed and reassured with where they want to take the club.

"I don't sense anyone here being satisfied with where we are at, both players and staff want to continue to progress.

"No-one wants to go back to the night at the end of August, I think that will still hurt us for a long time until we're in the group stages.

"Fundamentally that's our next challenge and I don't think anyone will rest here until we achieve that.

"I spent a few years at Rangers, it was very intense, we got to Seville, we won the league and there were a lot of challenges politically, with a small 'P', off the pitch, which there are here as well.

"The clubs are very similar and we share quite a big fanbase.

"Even as a lifelong Rangers fan though you think you know the club then you get in under the bonnet and you don't realise the level of expectation.

"If you dropped points, even in my position, you daren't go out at night, you just knew the level of expectation from the fanbase.

"You don't want to be a club that's happy to settle for a draw."

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