ARTHUR DUFFY reports

Philip Lowry, Institute’s talented 18 years old central midfielder has just completed a trial with Leicester City and while the Limavady lad has done well, he will visit Norwich City today to train and play in a practise match before he decides on his future.

And with that in mind, Lowry’s presence at Mourneview Park tomorrow afternoon for Institute’s opening fixture is considered highly unlikely. (Kick-off: 3.00 p.m.)

Confirming the news that Lowry was currently in England, Gregg has resigned himself to losing the talented teenager but, at the same time, he refuses to stand in his way.

“Philip is a special talent and a lad with great character,” said Gregg. “He was invited over to Leicester and he appears to have done very well. But we’ve also promised Norwich City a close look at him and he will visit Carrow Road before making any decision on his future.

“Judging by the communication we’ve had from Leicester, he appears to have done very well and it’s my view that his future lies in England. He’s young, enthusiastic and a lad who could do very well for himself. We’ve no intention of standing in his way, but I think it would be highly unlikely that he would be available to play against Glenavon this weekend,” claimed the Drumahoe club’s boss.

Looking forward to the new campaign, which saw Institute slip through the back door at the eleventh hour to gain entry to the new 12 team Premier Division, Gregg was under no illusions.

“My personal view is that if Portadown had been included in the new 12 team league, then we would have been out.

“Nobody seems to like us and if the truth be told, the bigger teams hate travelling to Drumahoe because for some it probably represents their longest journey of the season. But we’ll use that as a motivational tool. The players are ready for the new season, we’ve made some quality signings and we intend to do as well as we can in the new Premier Division,” he added.

He refused to make any predictions before the campaign got underway. “Our first target is our opening match at Mourneview Park and after that it’s at home to Crusaders,” he answered.

“We’ll take it a step at a time. We don’t know where we will finish and for us it’s very much a case of taking it match by match.”

He agreed, however, that maintaining Premier Division status was always going to be the priority and while he was confident in the quality of squad at his disposal, he hoped that the Riverside Stadium would once again become a venue to be feared by visiting opponents.

“Of course it’s vitally important for Institute Football Club to remain in the top flight of Irish League football, that’s first and foremost and to do that, we must make the Riverside Stadium a venue to be feared by opponents.