Jeffrey warns players are playing for their futures

While the focus has been on ensuring that the Sky Blues clamber away from the relegation battle at the foot of the Danske Bank Premiership campaign, Jeffrey already has one eye on which of his personnel will be at the club next season.

“All you can ever do as a manager is give people opportunities and show you have a confidence in them - after that their responsibility is to do it on the pitch.

“The very first night I met the players there were three simple questions - the first was what is your best or preferred position?

“Even though I would have known where they played, I like players to identify what their best or favoured position is.

“The second question was where do you see your future and thirdly, has any clubs been speaking to you?

“To a man, every one of them said they hoped their future would be here.

“I’m taking them at their word and to secure their future they will have to continue to get results.”

Jeffrey highlighted the performances of goalkeeper Alan Blayney in his first two games in charge as an example of what he is trying to achieve.

“I know Alan extremely well and I know what he’s capable of. I have just told him to go and be what you truly are and be true to yourself and in the last two games he has been absolutely magnificent.

“I think what is helping the pair of us is that we have worked together before. He knows what I expect and he knows what to expect from me.

“There’s an excellent goalkeeper in there and I really wnat him to do well.

“We put a challenge to him, can he play to the fullnes of his ability and can he do it justice and he certainly has,” added Jeffrey.

The momentum create by a draw and a win in Jeffrey’s opening two games will be slowed down this week after the announcement on Monday that Saturday’s scheduled game against Cliftonville has beeb postponed.

The Belfast side have three players called up for international duty at under-age levels and have exercised their right to request a postponement under Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) rules.