SUWON (Yonhap News) ― Cho Beom-hyun, freshly named the inaugural manager of the expansion baseball club KT Wiz, said Monday he will try to turn the team into a playoff contender by his third season.

Cho held his first press conference as the Wiz’s manager in Suwon, the club’s hometown in Gyeonggi Province, about 45 kilometers south of Seoul. The Wiz announced their signing of Cho to a three-year deal worth 1.5 billion won, including a signing bonus, last Friday.

The team will join the Korea Baseball Organization in 2015 after playing next season in the Futures League. Cho told reporters he will try to build on his managerial experience as he prepares to lead the expansion team.

“I have previously taken on struggling ballclubs,” he said. “I think such experience should help me with KT. When I first became the manager (of SK), I was young and wasn’t really prepared. But I am more experienced now.”

Cho said he felt it would take about three years before he can successfully establish his brand of baseball. “While we play in the minor leagues next year, I will have to learn about our players and their abilities,” he said. “Our first KBO season will be a period of adjustments. Then by our second season there, I hope to see our team compete for a playoff spot.”