Shamrock Rovers head coach Steven Bradley during a press conference at Stamford Bridge, London. Photo credit: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.
In the lead up to the Hoops’ huge Conference League clash away to Chelsea on Thursday night, the 40-year-old’s name has been in the conversation for the vacant post at the Championship club in recent days.
But while Bradley admits such interest is flattering, having made no secret of his desire to challenge himself at the highest level, he insists his sole focus has been on their date at Stamford Bridge as he also opened up on how supporting his son Josh during his ongoing treatment for his illness has been, and remains his priority.
“I have had a number of approaches over the last 18 months from clubs, but I have also made it very clear that my son has been battling cancer and that’s my number one priority and has been,” said Bradley, ahead of Thursday’s 8.0 kick-off with 3,000 Rovers fans expected at Stamford Bridge.
“Thankfully and hopefully we are nearly finished that, but until that time, like I said, it's really flattering to have the interest and clubs wanting to speak to you. But my son, my family and his illness comes before anything, and nothing will ever change that."
Shamrock Rovers head coach Steven Bradley during a press conference at Stamford Bridge, London. Photo credit: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.
Chelsea’s preparations are well underway for the visit of Shamrock Rovers to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night in the Conference League
Asked about the reported interest from Millwall this week, Bradley continued: “If I sat here and said I was speaking to x, y and z, I think that would be really disrespectful to my club and my players. That’s not how we operate and that’s not how I operate.
“My only focus this week has been preparing the team for Chelsea. I understand people talk and there is speculation, but I can’t control that, I don’t want to, it is what it is. All I can control is getting these men prepared as best we can.
“I’m genuinely flattered by the interest in me that has been shown in the last two years but I keep repeating, Josh is Number one, my family is number one, but Josh’s treatment is number one and that’s not going to change any time soon.
“Do I want better myself and be the best manager I can be and challenge myself? Of course I do, 100pc I do. But for that to happen, everything has to be right. I’m 40, I’m not 60 and thinking ‘it has to happen tomorrow’. I’m still developing, still learning, let’s see what the future holds for me.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of teams approach over the past two years and the message has been the same. We’ve had conversations, I’ve been very thankful but my son’s treatment is my priority. We’re nearly there, nearly done but hand on heart my focus is on this team coming up against one of the best teams in Europe.”
Bradley also opened up on supporting and playing for Chelsea as a boy, before Irish legend Liam Brady persuaded him to sign for London rivals Arsenal as a teenager.
“It’s brilliant for my family to be at the game. They have seen old pictures of me at home from when I played for Chelsea,” said Bradley, with his side one of the three sides in the 36-team competition who remain unbeaten after five games.
“It’s the first club I came to as a boy. I spent many years here and trained here with some great players. Chelsea was a club I was at since the age of 10. I trained here with some of the club legends, (Roberto) Di Matteo, John Terry, Gianfranco Zola. I remember them quite fondly. They were brilliant times. When you walk back in and back up the steps (at Stamford Bridge), a lot comes flooding back to you.
“It was a tough one at the time to turn them down, but Liam Brady at Arsenal was special at his job at that point in time, academy director. He got what it took to make a big club like Arsenal feel like a family."
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca hailed their visitors as a good side although he's expected to give several of his youngsters a run out against Rovers.
“We are going to try to approach (the game) always in the same way, try to do our best and win,” he said.
“I watched four or five games and I think they are a good team. They try to defend as a block and they have some good players. We could be (giving young players a chance). Thursday is probably one more option for that.”
With their European pot for this campaign currently standing at €5.5m, the Hoops have already secured a February play-off for the last 16 stage, while a draw against Chelsea would hand them an outside chance of a top eight finish and automatic progression. Aaron McEneff and Rory Gaffney are Rovers' only absentees, with a large police presence expected in SW6 for the game.
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