David Healy looking for changes in a bid to keep pace with high-flying Larne

David Healy says the rest of the Irish League will have to look at how they can keep pace with Larne.

Having just secured back-to-back league titles the Invermen look to be in a strong position to be a dominant force over the next few years. Healy is determined to take the fight to Larne but insists clubs have to look at how they can improve on and off the pitch to be competitive.

The Blues are reported to be open to outside investment following their AGM last week, but Healy said a lot still needs to be done before that would become a reality. In the meantime the Linfield boss feels there are other things they need to do to try and bridge the gap.

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"The Larne project and situation hasn't just come up and poked us on the back of the neck and said 'we're here'," said Healy. "There's been steady progress and improvement, you've seen that over the last couple of years.

"Clubs like ourselves and others need to have a look at a few different areas and things that we can improve in and around our own infrastructure to see how we're going to regain success, catch up with Larne as they are ahead at the minute. We need to work out different scenarios as to how we can keep pace with them.

"In general, when clubs are successful throughout Europe, success can last for one season or a one-off, whereas other clubs can win six, seven or eight titles on the spin and then all of a sudden, they don't win it for two, three or four years and suddenly it's a crisis.

"We are there at the minute where we need to find different scenarios, work out things better in-house to how we're going to keep pace with Larne. It's been well-documented that we don't have someone who's just going to come in and invest in the football club and not want a return on it.

"All credit to Kenny (Bruce), Larne and everyone down there. The project that they have means they are upskilling people year on year to keep the club moving forward and that's something we need to make sure we're trying to stay pace with them.

"People think Linfield are incredibly rich due to the success that we've had but it's been generated through the last three or four years of European income and the sales of youth players, that's what we have to do at the minute. Outside investment was discussed with the members but nothing gets passed without an EGM if there is going to be possible investors who want to invest in Linfield FC."

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