Ryan Waide outlines Glenavon's promotion challenge after strong start

Ryan Waide, who has seven goals for Glenavon this season, insists the team must raise their game to secure promotion back to the Irish Premiership.

Ryan Waide has scored seven of Glenavon FC's 17 league goals this season, a contribution he says must be part of a collective step up if the club is to achieve its goal of immediate promotion. The 26-year-old striker, who joined from Carrick Rangers in the summer, believes the team's status as favourites demands a higher level of performance every week.

Glenavon were relegated last season after 21 years in the top flight, ending a long Premiership stay. The club now sits fifth in the restructured 16-team Championship, having taken 11 points from their first seven matches. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws and one defeat from the last five outings, a sequence that includes a 1-1 draw away to Ballinamallard United last weekend.

Waide was named the Championship's player of the month by the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association for his fast start. He explained that a conversation with manager Michael O'Connor convinced him to sign, citing a shared belief in the project. The forward said O'Connor was clear and convincing from the very beginning, showing the trust and belief in his ability that any player wants from a coach.

That belief extends to the club's overall ambition. Waide stated that Glenavon are a Premiership club and the clear aim to bounce straight back was a major factor in his decision to move. He acknowledged the opening day 3-1 home loss to Ards served as a sharp wake-up call, but the team responded by winning three of their next four games.

The challenge of being favourites

With Glenavon considered one of the division's big hitters, Waide knows opponents raise their game when they face them. He said that when teams come to Mourneview Park, with its excellent facilities, they often perform 10 or 15 percent better. The response, he argued, must be for Glenavon to raise their own level by 20 or 25 percent. That is what it will take every single week to go straight back up, he added.

The squad's mentality, fostered by the manager, is firmly forward-looking. Waide said nobody is dwelling on last season's relegation. The focus is entirely on what needs to be done now and how the team will get back to the Premiership. That approach from O'Connor has made the players believe they are capable of achieving an immediate return.

Success would carry deep meaning. Waide, who has been impressed by how the club has treated him, said promotion would mean a lot to everyone. It is not only for the players, but for the fans and the many volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes out of love for the club. Helping them achieve that goal would be equally significant for the squad.

The immediate task is a major test this weekend. Glenavon host league leaders Newington Youth at Mourneview Park on Saturday, 19 September. Newington currently sit six points clear at the top of the table, making this a key fixture in the early promotion race. A positive result would be a significant statement of intent for O'Connor's side as they look to close the gap at the summit.