Lynch has 'unfinished business' with Larne

Larne manager Tiernan Lynch was in talks with Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone

Larne manager Tiernan Lynch says he believes he has "unfinished business" with the Irish Premiership champions after rejecting the chance to manage Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.

Lynch was speaking to BBC Sport NI as he prepares to break new ground for the Irish League by leading his side into the league phase of the Uefa Conference League for the first time, starting with Thursday night's game away to Norwegian club Molde.

Lynch, who took over as Larne manager in 2017 and has won back-to-back league titles, had been the subject of an approach from the Saints, before the appointment of Simo Valakari.

Lynch explained that he was flattered to be linked with the post but his "big thing is concentrating on Larne now".

"There’s probably no doubt that the Scottish Premiership is a step up from the Irish League and getting to challenge yourself against the Celtics of this world, the Rangers of this world, Hibs and Hearts, household names, and all that goes with that," he said.

"We've been on a journey now for eight years that is probably unfinished. There was probably unfinished business here and we put that to bed and we move on.

“The work that was put in all those years ago to get where we are today, it probably needs to be seen through."

The Larne boss does not rule out moving on in the future if the right offer comes along.

“Nothing has changed with me. Personally, the work that has been put into my own development and us as a group or a management team, we work very hard at our game and we always work very hard to try and improve and areas where we can reflect and develop, so nothing has changed as far as that’s concerned and I think the timing of everything is always key."

'We're not here to make up the numbers'

Lynch went on to say that he was "privileged" to manage the east Antrim club during their rise from the second tier of Northern Ireland football to capturing successive league crowns and now becoming the first Irish League club to participate in the league or group phase of a European competition.

Larne will also face Shamrock Rovers, St Gallen, Olimpija, Dinamo Minsk and Gent over the coming months.

Lynch says he and his squad will concentrate on one match at a time rather than set goals for the remainder of the competition.

“Our only thought now is tomorrow night [Thursday] and can we carry out the work that has gone into pre-match for us.

"They are a very good side, they have some top players. They score goals, so there is a huge amount of work to go in – what we need to do in possession, what we need to do out of possession and can we carry out the gameplan, go and give a good account of ourselves."

The 44-year-old says tactics and how his team set up are different when facing formidable continental opposition.

“Domestically you would have more of the ball so you set up very differently. When you come to these European games you’re not 100% sure what you’re getting.

You watch footage but you’re watching footage of teams probably of equivalent ability, so it’s not always a true reflection. We’ll have good moments and bad moments in the campaign but it’s about trying to embrace this challenge."