Shelbourne in 'new era' after Duff departure - Coyle

Shelbourne captain Mark Coyle said their Champions League fixture against Linfield on Wednesday is an opportunity to make "new memories" after last month's departure of manager Damien Duff.

The Dublin side's meeting with the Northern Ireland champions at Tolka Park (19:45 BST) is their first fixture in Europe's top club competition in 20 years with both legs of the tie to be streamed live on the BBC Sport website and app.

Duff, who won 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland, led Shelbourne to their first League of Ireland championship since 2006 last season, but their title defence proved a disappointment and the former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers winger surprisingly quit last month with the side fifth in the table.

New manager Joey O'Brien, Duff's former assistant and international team-mate, earned his first victory at the third attempt at home to Cork City on Friday night, giving the side momentum going into their tie against David Healy's squad.

"It's been very good," said Coyle of the team's mood since Duff's shock departure.

"We obviously have huge respect and love for the ex-manager but now we're excited for the new era.

"The gaffer [O'Brien], it's been great. He's put his own stamp on things and you can see around the ground, there's obviously an excitement and it's just about creating new memories now."

Former West Ham and Bolton Wanderers defender O'Brien said he has maintained his good relationship with Duff since the title-winning manager's departure, while the 39-year-old does not feel his ascension into the top job has been a disruption.

"A lot has changed but a lot hasn't changed really, it's still the same sort of thing," O'Brien said.

"I'm coaching every day, I'm out on the pitch every day. Obviously I had a great relationship with the man before us [so] I would have had a lot of say in a lot of meetings and taken a lot of meetings and stuff like that."

Coyle believes O'Brien has "got all the attributes" to be a successful manager and added that the start of their Champions League campaign has helped maintain the "good buzz" around the club.

In the two decades since they last played in the competition, Shelbourne have endured multiple relegations, financial struggles and uncertainty over the future of their home ground.

After what he called "dark years", the skipper said that the supporters deserve an occasion such as Wednesday night.

"The fans were here long before us, and will be here long after us, so for them it's obviously a massive occasion as well and it's what they deserve for what they've been through," he said.

"We're just glad we gave them the opportunity, but now it's about going out there and putting on a performance and making sure that they can cheer again."