Investment 'hugely important' for Linfield - Healy

"But a club like ours, where we're struggling for financial investment or a benefactor, we don't have that, any money that we do get, that we bring in, that we earn, is important.

"The money will help. Next year the budget is certainly going to be down on what it was two years ago, it's going to be down on last year.

"So when you go into next year we'll lose nine or 10 players out of the squad so it's about being selective, a wee bit more proactive in what we bring in."

Despite believing that the Blues trail their main rivals in respect of financial firepower, the Linfield manager knows that expectations remain high at historically the most successful club in the Northern Ireland game.

"Going into next year Linfield Football Club will be I imagine fourth best budget going into it.

"Some of the other part-time clubs will not be that far off, even though they are part-time, so we have a lot of work to do over the coming weeks.

"It doesn't matter where we stand in the budget table, the Linfield fans, it's written in stone around this football club, anyone who knows anything about Irish League football, knows the demands and expectations, so that's a challenge for me.

"It doesn't matter where we are, we're Linfield Football Club, but there's a realisation among most of the board, some of our supporters who sat through the AGM, where we went through the critical numbers, where we are going forward and what we need going forward."

Healy went on to commend his side's display in defeating Rodney McAree's Swifts side on Tuesday night.

"Without sounding disrespectful, I don't think 3-1 flattered us. We should have been further ahead at half-time. We let them off the hook at times with opportunities.

"We probably scored the second goal against the run of play and it was an important goal, it gives you that platform, that cushion to go on and win the game.

"All in all, I thought our performance levels were good. For me the past 17 days have been a huge learning curve about how you peak for a one-off game."

Healy went on to commend his side's display in defeating Rodney McAree's Swifts side on Tuesday night.

"Without sounding disrespectful, I don't think 3-1 flattered us. We should have been further ahead at half-time. We let them off the hook at times with opportunities.

"We probably scored the second goal against the run of play and it was an important goal, it gives you that platform, that cushion to go on and win the game.

"All in all, I thought our performance levels were good. For me the past 17 days have been a huge learning curve about how you peak for a one-off game."