Eyes On The Irish As Transfer Window Opens

The bi-annual season of unexpected twists, turns and transfers has opened. Whilst much attention is on the big fees for players, some deserving, some not, many Irish and former League of Ireland players are also committing their futures or joining new clubs. Here are a few who have secured their futures in the first two days.

Former UCD player Gary Dicker has joined Carlisle United on a two-year deal. Under the management of former Irish international Graham Kavanagh, the midfielder joins after playing on short-term contracts at Rochdale and Crawley last season.

Rotherham are busy building a team for the Championship this season and they have signed midfielder Paul Green on a free transfer from Leeds United. The Irish international finished last season on loan at Ipswich Town and was part of a mass exodus of players released by Leeds.

Birmingham City have finally completed the deals for two Dubliners. Stephen Gleeson and Gavin Gunning have joined the club on free transfers from MK Dons and Dundee United respectively. Gunning was a part of the U21 squad for three seasons while Gleeson played twice for the senior team back in 2007.

Daryl Murphy and Stephen Hunt have both signed new deals at Ipswich Town. Ipswich, who will be playing Shelbourne in a pre-season friendly on the 12^th of July, have secured Hunt on a new one-year deal. Murphy, who returned to the Irish squad after six years out, has signed a two-year deal until 2016.

Finally, nineteen year-old Alan Browne has been rewarded for breaking into the Preston North End first team by putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract. The U19 international, who moved from Cork City in January, played nine times in League One, scoring once in a 6-1 win over Carlisle United.