Disillusioned Niall McGonagle departs Harps
Credit:
(courtesy of the Donegal Democrat)
Finn Harps' U-20 manager Niall McGonagle has parted company with the club and has stated his "disillusionment" with the current goings on at Finn Park.
McGonagle was in charge of the U-20 side for just five league games this term, having been over the youths for the previous two campaigns, winning the John 'Gorey' Curran Memorial Cup in each of those seasons.
With Harps having grossly overspent last term in their botched bid to stay in the Premier Division, it was felt that the best way forward for the Ballybofey club was to build from within.
McGonagle, who spread the net of the club around the north-west and conscripted a number of fine young players, was seen as paramount to that process.
In recent weeks, Stephen McLaughlin made the breakthrough from McGonagle's U-20 side to the Harps first team, and the weekend before last against Shelbourne, teenagers Michael Carroll and Paddy Doherty were on the bench for the seniors.
However, McGonagle left the club at the end of last week and expressed his disappointment at the lack of backing he was being given by certain parties within the club.
"I became disillusioned and disheartened at the level of support I was receiving from the club," he said this week. "Ironically, this comes at a time where there is a squad of extremely talented elite 16 and 17-year-olds at the club with huge potential. They were responsive and committed, but the club needs to be more proactive if they want to develop this youth policy further, with a view to generating local players into the senior team.
"I would like to portray my sincere thanks to (Finn Harps' financial controller) Ian Curristan, (head of youth development) James Rodgers and (first team manager) James Gallagher, all of whom I had great working relationships with."
Luca Asokuh, who was McGonagle's assistant, has stepped in as U-20 manager on an interim basis and was at the helm for the first time on Sunday as Harps were beaten 6-1 at home by Salthill Devon in the Dr Tony O'Neill U-20 League.
Finn Harps' U-20 manager Niall McGonagle has parted company with the club and has stated his "disillusionment" with the current goings on at Finn Park.
McGonagle was in charge of the U-20 side for just five league games this term, having been over the youths for the previous two campaigns, winning the John 'Gorey' Curran Memorial Cup in each of those seasons.
With Harps having grossly overspent last term in their botched bid to stay in the Premier Division, it was felt that the best way forward for the Ballybofey club was to build from within.
McGonagle, who spread the net of the club around the north-west and conscripted a number of fine young players, was seen as paramount to that process.
In recent weeks, Stephen McLaughlin made the breakthrough from McGonagle's U-20 side to the Harps first team, and the weekend before last against Shelbourne, teenagers Michael Carroll and Paddy Doherty were on the bench for the seniors.
However, McGonagle left the club at the end of last week and expressed his disappointment at the lack of backing he was being given by certain parties within the club.
"I became disillusioned and disheartened at the level of support I was receiving from the club," he said this week. "Ironically, this comes at a time where there is a squad of extremely talented elite 16 and 17-year-olds at the club with huge potential. They were responsive and committed, but the club needs to be more proactive if they want to develop this youth policy further, with a view to generating local players into the senior team.
"I would like to portray my sincere thanks to (Finn Harps' financial controller) Ian Curristan, (head of youth development) James Rodgers and (first team manager) James Gallagher, all of whom I had great working relationships with."
Luca Asokuh, who was McGonagle's assistant, has stepped in as U-20 manager on an interim basis and was at the helm for the first time on Sunday as Harps were beaten 6-1 at home by Salthill Devon in the Dr Tony O'Neill U-20 League.
