Pat Fenlon is looking forward to the challenge at Derry City

Fenlon was in charge of the Shelbourne team which pipped the Candystripes in the championship race last month.

"The expectations at Derry do not faze me and it would be a great achievement to get Derry over the finishing line to win the league," Fenlon told BBC Sport.

"I have my own ideas and plan of how to do things."

He added: "That's not going to happen overnight. It will take the players a little time to get used to it."

The Dubliner does not intend to make many changes in both the playing and backroom staff following the success the club achieved under his predecessor Stephen Kenny.

"I've spoken to Paul Hegarty (assistant manager under Kenny) and I'll speak to the rest of the staff and see if they are happy to stay," he said.

"There are one or two people that I worked with at Shelbourne who I will use at Derry City.

"They seem to be a very happy camp at Derry and there needs to be continuity.

"The squad at the club is very strong although there are a couple of areas that need strengthened - obviously we have only one keeper now after David Forde's departure."

One of the key reasons for Fenlon taking the job was the role the club played in the Derry community.

"There is a connection, which you don't get with Dublin clubs, between the people of the city and the football club," he explained.

"It was something I noticed when I was playing for Linfield and is something I'm looking forward to again.

"The club is a big part of their lives in Derry and getting the backing of the people is very important."