The Update
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After a much-needed, all-expenses paid vacation in the Maldives to recuperate from our extensive coverage of all things League of Ireland throughout 2009, extratime has sufficiently recharged its' batteries to resume normal service. The Update will provide a weekly look back at any transfer moves, revelations, or allegations that caught our eye over the previous seven days. For now, a quick recap on the main news since the action on the field ended a month ago.
And where better to start than with Premier Division new-boys and Ford FAI Cup winners Sporting Fingal, who have been quick to take advantage of the plethora of free agents available. With a Europa League campaign to prepare for, Liam Buckley has snapped up 'keeper Brendan Clarke, First Division Player of the Year Ronan Finn, as well as defender Ger O'Brien. Clarke was on loan at the club during their first season in 2008, but returned to St. Pat's where he made the No.1 jersey his own towards the end of the season after the arrival of Pete Mahon.
Finn, who lifted the First Division trophy as captain of U.C.D in November, also adds a creative element and fully merited his individual award despite the claims of his now-team mate Conan Byrne. O'Brien, 25, returns to his native Dublin having picked up valuable European experience with the Candystripes.
Sligo Rovers, agonisingly beaten in that Cup final, have also made notable additions to their squad. Former Irish U21 striker Padraig Amond heads to the north-west after falling down the pecking order at Shamrock Rovers, where he will join up with other newcomers in the shape of Gary McCabe and Chris Turner, although Turner knows his way around the Showgrounds from a distinguished former spell with the Bit O'Red. Maybe the most significant signing so far by Paul Cook, though, is the retention of influential centre-half Gavin Peers.
One player who won't be available to Cook, though, is last year's top scorer Raffaele Cretaro, who bustles his way in the revolving door at the home of the champions Bohemians just as another dynamo, Gary Deegan, heads for pastures new in the shape of Coventry's Ricoh Arena. Deegan has long wished for a chance to prove himself in England, where the second fixture he is eligible for may pit him against a former colleague when Coventry travel to take on Roy Keane's recovering Ipswich Town, where Brian Murphy expects to be in contention for the 'keeper's jersey.
Pat Fenlon looks to have replaced one B. Murphy with another; Barry reportedly arriving from Tallaght where he had been usurped by Alan Mannus during the title run-in. Their main rivals last year, Shamrock Rovers, were quick to snap up James Chambers, while Michael O'Neill has also recruited Enda Stevens from St. Pat's to potentially fill the troublesome left-back spot. Don't expect it to be the last signing, though. Also noteworthy were the seven confirmed departures, with Murphy, Amond, Simon Madden and Shane Robinson among those cast aside.
Where will the turmoil end for Cork City? The saga continues to rumble on with owner Tom Coughlan's stubborn refusal to accept sanction for turning a proud League of Ireland club into a laughing stock the latest in a long line of worrying headlines. Paul Doolin was unable to continue to work in the conditions offered to him and walked away, and who could blame him. Promising centre-half Kevin Long has been snapped up by Burnley, while Joe Gamble pines for a return to the English lower leagues. Should we even begin to discuss the debacle surrounding the proposed return of the self-proclaimed oracle, Roddy Collins......best not for now and hope that proposed fans boycotts are not needed to resolve this issue.
Another with a vacancy sign up at the Manager's Office are Galway United, who are being offered discounted advertising rates by the local papers given it is the fifth such requirement in as many years. Nick Leeson will not be in a position to offer the interviewees much in the way of a wages budget, so ambitious types with Premier League medals or their friends need not apply. The club's all-time top scorer, Paul McGee, has thrown his name in the hat along with former assistant manager Tom French. Rumours of other glamorous yet unidentified options on Leeson's list will struggle to contend with the local and, more importantly, cheaper versions. The chance to re-sign Aaron Greene disappeared when Dundee United came calling, while the rest of the squad must wait until Ian Foster's replacement is installed to learn their fate; if they wait that long to find out.
Foster has found a new home at Oriel Park following Sean Connor's "mutual consent" departure from Dundalk. The lure of proper facilities on which to train his squad as well as a chance to appoint a few assistants to help out on said training ground, something he lacked in his latter days in the West, probably swung his decision to up sticks after a so-near-to-mid-table-security-yet-saved-a-nervy-play-off-by-a-technicality season with Galway United. With a clean slate to assemble a squad on, no signings have been announced as of yet, but it will be interesting to see if he picks up some free transfers from his supposedly disaffected former squad.
A recent defector from the Lilywhites is Michael Daly, who has made the short hop south down the M1 to the grassier surrounds of United Park, where Alan Mathews has committed to a further two years as manager of Drogheda United. James Chambers departure is a blow, but Mathews is a shrewd operator at this level as proven by his assembly of a squad in no time last year and will no doubt be improving his hand before the 2010 campaign begins.
U.C.D return to the Premier Division under the guidance of Martin Russell, who took over from Pete Mahon, now of St. Patrick's Athletic. Russell has retained the services of Chris Mulhall and Graham Rusk as well as those on the scholarship program, while no word has yet emerged from Inchicore on who Mahon and his assistant, John Gill, have got lined up to sign for next season. No assistance will be forthcoming from Richard Sadlier, though, who has resigned from his position of chief executive at the club after 14 months in the role.
The First Division will have obvious favourites in the shape of demoted Derry City, who held on to the homesick James McLean and Stephen Kenny may yet retain the services of a few others who looked on their way out after the contracts debacle erupted. Little yet is known of other club's squad manoeuvrings, although Athlone Town have signed both Chris Bennion and Stephen Caffrey, while Philly Hughes has returned to Monaghan United after a spell with the now defunct Kildare County. American 'keeper Chris Konopka has also signed for Waterford United.
It is also unclear as to whether Galway City's potential third club, Salthill Devon, will accept their invitation to participate in the second tier or who would take their place if they decided not to dip their toes in the murky waters. A lot will hopefully become much clearer as the new season gets closer.
If you have any comments, rumours, innuendo, suggestions, or queries, don't be afraid to contact us here at extratimelive@gmail.com or leave a smart remark below.
And where better to start than with Premier Division new-boys and Ford FAI Cup winners Sporting Fingal, who have been quick to take advantage of the plethora of free agents available. With a Europa League campaign to prepare for, Liam Buckley has snapped up 'keeper Brendan Clarke, First Division Player of the Year Ronan Finn, as well as defender Ger O'Brien. Clarke was on loan at the club during their first season in 2008, but returned to St. Pat's where he made the No.1 jersey his own towards the end of the season after the arrival of Pete Mahon.
Finn, who lifted the First Division trophy as captain of U.C.D in November, also adds a creative element and fully merited his individual award despite the claims of his now-team mate Conan Byrne. O'Brien, 25, returns to his native Dublin having picked up valuable European experience with the Candystripes.
Sligo Rovers, agonisingly beaten in that Cup final, have also made notable additions to their squad. Former Irish U21 striker Padraig Amond heads to the north-west after falling down the pecking order at Shamrock Rovers, where he will join up with other newcomers in the shape of Gary McCabe and Chris Turner, although Turner knows his way around the Showgrounds from a distinguished former spell with the Bit O'Red. Maybe the most significant signing so far by Paul Cook, though, is the retention of influential centre-half Gavin Peers.
One player who won't be available to Cook, though, is last year's top scorer Raffaele Cretaro, who bustles his way in the revolving door at the home of the champions Bohemians just as another dynamo, Gary Deegan, heads for pastures new in the shape of Coventry's Ricoh Arena. Deegan has long wished for a chance to prove himself in England, where the second fixture he is eligible for may pit him against a former colleague when Coventry travel to take on Roy Keane's recovering Ipswich Town, where Brian Murphy expects to be in contention for the 'keeper's jersey.
Pat Fenlon looks to have replaced one B. Murphy with another; Barry reportedly arriving from Tallaght where he had been usurped by Alan Mannus during the title run-in. Their main rivals last year, Shamrock Rovers, were quick to snap up James Chambers, while Michael O'Neill has also recruited Enda Stevens from St. Pat's to potentially fill the troublesome left-back spot. Don't expect it to be the last signing, though. Also noteworthy were the seven confirmed departures, with Murphy, Amond, Simon Madden and Shane Robinson among those cast aside.
Where will the turmoil end for Cork City? The saga continues to rumble on with owner Tom Coughlan's stubborn refusal to accept sanction for turning a proud League of Ireland club into a laughing stock the latest in a long line of worrying headlines. Paul Doolin was unable to continue to work in the conditions offered to him and walked away, and who could blame him. Promising centre-half Kevin Long has been snapped up by Burnley, while Joe Gamble pines for a return to the English lower leagues. Should we even begin to discuss the debacle surrounding the proposed return of the self-proclaimed oracle, Roddy Collins......best not for now and hope that proposed fans boycotts are not needed to resolve this issue.
Another with a vacancy sign up at the Manager's Office are Galway United, who are being offered discounted advertising rates by the local papers given it is the fifth such requirement in as many years. Nick Leeson will not be in a position to offer the interviewees much in the way of a wages budget, so ambitious types with Premier League medals or their friends need not apply. The club's all-time top scorer, Paul McGee, has thrown his name in the hat along with former assistant manager Tom French. Rumours of other glamorous yet unidentified options on Leeson's list will struggle to contend with the local and, more importantly, cheaper versions. The chance to re-sign Aaron Greene disappeared when Dundee United came calling, while the rest of the squad must wait until Ian Foster's replacement is installed to learn their fate; if they wait that long to find out.
Foster has found a new home at Oriel Park following Sean Connor's "mutual consent" departure from Dundalk. The lure of proper facilities on which to train his squad as well as a chance to appoint a few assistants to help out on said training ground, something he lacked in his latter days in the West, probably swung his decision to up sticks after a so-near-to-mid-table-security-yet-saved-a-nervy-play-off-by-a-technicality season with Galway United. With a clean slate to assemble a squad on, no signings have been announced as of yet, but it will be interesting to see if he picks up some free transfers from his supposedly disaffected former squad.
A recent defector from the Lilywhites is Michael Daly, who has made the short hop south down the M1 to the grassier surrounds of United Park, where Alan Mathews has committed to a further two years as manager of Drogheda United. James Chambers departure is a blow, but Mathews is a shrewd operator at this level as proven by his assembly of a squad in no time last year and will no doubt be improving his hand before the 2010 campaign begins.
U.C.D return to the Premier Division under the guidance of Martin Russell, who took over from Pete Mahon, now of St. Patrick's Athletic. Russell has retained the services of Chris Mulhall and Graham Rusk as well as those on the scholarship program, while no word has yet emerged from Inchicore on who Mahon and his assistant, John Gill, have got lined up to sign for next season. No assistance will be forthcoming from Richard Sadlier, though, who has resigned from his position of chief executive at the club after 14 months in the role.
The First Division will have obvious favourites in the shape of demoted Derry City, who held on to the homesick James McLean and Stephen Kenny may yet retain the services of a few others who looked on their way out after the contracts debacle erupted. Little yet is known of other club's squad manoeuvrings, although Athlone Town have signed both Chris Bennion and Stephen Caffrey, while Philly Hughes has returned to Monaghan United after a spell with the now defunct Kildare County. American 'keeper Chris Konopka has also signed for Waterford United.
It is also unclear as to whether Galway City's potential third club, Salthill Devon, will accept their invitation to participate in the second tier or who would take their place if they decided not to dip their toes in the murky waters. A lot will hopefully become much clearer as the new season gets closer.
If you have any comments, rumours, innuendo, suggestions, or queries, don't be afraid to contact us here at extratimelive@gmail.com or leave a smart remark below.
