Patterson extends Derry City stay

After securing a new one-year contract with Derry City, last year’s Airtricity Premier Division top goal-scorer Rory Patterson declared his happiness to remain at the Brandywell.

Regarded as something of an enigma among Candystripes fans, Patterson has had two largely successful seasons since joining the club from Plymouth Argyle, and was pleased to extend his stay at the Foyleside club.

Speaking to ExtraTime.ie, Patterson said: “Being away since the end of the season, I took a break and a bit of time off from football, but to come back and get sorted quickly, it’s pleasing.

“There were obviously a lot of things happening over who was going to be there and who wasn’t, but when I got back on Wednesday, I spoke to him (Roddy Collins) straight away and was sucked in by his enthusiasm. His plans for going forward with the club were really good, so I felt it was a good time to get signed up”, he said.

Having played a pivotal role in Derry City’s 2012 FAI Cup Final win over St Patrick’s Athletic, the former Northern Ireland striker is eager for more silverware under Collins. He does however admit his sympathy for previous boss Declan Devine, who left the club at the end of last season.

“Decky brought me to the club, but obviously things went the way they went.

“To be honest, I thought it was a bit tight on him going because he brought silverware in his first season and then European football again last season. But it was a lot to do with results and unfortunately for him, he left the club”, he said.

Indeed, it was one of Collins’ priorities to ensure the league’s top scorer stayed at the club. The Dubliner spoke of challenging for the league title next season, and in securing Patterson’s signature, he has taken the right steps in achieving his objective.

Patterson said: “That has to be our main objective (to win the league). We have to see who comes in and how well we can gel together, and hopefully if we hit the ground running, we can take it from there.

“Obviously, Roddy’s coming here to win the league and he’s set his marker out early, which as a player, it’s good to see that he is ambitious.”