David Healy has guided Linfield to six Irish League titles since becoming manager in 2015

Linfield manager David Healy says outside investment in the club will be "hugely important" if the Blues are to remain competitive in challenging for silverware in the coming years.

The south Belfast club finished fourth in the Irish Premiership this season, behind champions Larne, Coleraine and Glentoran.

They won the BetMcLean Cup in March and managed to progress to the Uefa Conference League first qualifying round by beating Dungannon Swifts 3-1 in the European play-off final at Windsor Park on Tuesday, courtesy of a Matthew Fitzpatrick hat-trick.

That victory will reap financial dividends which will help boost the club's coffers for the forthcoming season, but Healy says they are still trailing behind the clubs above them in the division in monetary terms.