Turner get-out clause may be invoked
Credit:
With only the bare bones of a squad to work with and very little time or money to prepare for the new season, it came as little surprise that Sean Connor wouldn't rule out the possibility of linking up once more with one of his star pupils, Sligo Rovers recent signing Chris Turner.
Turner, who only moved from Oriel Park to the Showgrounds in November, revealed in a recent interview that he had inserted an amazingly unique clause in his contract that allowed him to leave if Connor became a manager at any other League of Ireland club.
Turner admitted to his "love" of working with the Belfast native, who has already signed him three times in brokering moves to Sligo, Bohemians, and most recently Dundalk. Speaking today of the possible additions he may make to the Galway squad, Connor admitted Turner was an option he would have to look at.
"Chris Turner always interests me because in my opinion he is the best player in the League, and if we got him here it would be fabulous. There’s no secret about the clause in his contract that he can come and sign for me. We’ll have to look at that. I’m definitely going to investigate that possibility."
Which may not have pleased the small batch of Sligo Rovers fans in attendance, but financial imperatives at the club may yet scupper that move. Connor also spoke of how he intends to unearth some fresh talent to augment the players who will remain on from last year's squad.
"I think other than Turner, players at Dundalk, it might be difficult because of the budget. There’s certainly players I would like to work with again. But I’m going to do what I did probably in the early days in Sligo and bring in players that are not known. I’m expecting two boys in from New Zealand on trial and we’ll have a couple of players over from England and Scotland.
"I am 100% confident Seamus Conneely will be here. I think John (Russell) has an opportunity to go and look at a club in England and I wouldn’t stand in his way. But if that doesn’t transpire, hopefully with what I’m doing here, I’d like him to be part of it and hopefully he’ll see that as well. Derek O’Brien and Alan Murphy have both given me commitments, Barry Ryan we haven’t met yet but we spoke and I’ll speak to other players in the coming days.
"Everybody who was here last year, we’ll try and see if they’re available for pre-season training. We’ll sit down and speak to them and see how we go. The first thing I need to do now is sit down with Nick and really iron out the budget and the finer details of that. Speak to maybe one or two players that I would like to bring in to the club, and see if I can maybe get them. I’ll be looking everywhere for players, I don’t think I should limit myself to one particular area."
Limits will be in place, though, given the precarious nature of the finances at the club. Club CEO Nick Leeson, however, was keen to point out that measures were being taken to ensure licence criteria were fully met and that financial prudence would be a priority in achieving sustainability into the future.
"It has been a constant fight for us over the past couple of years", Leeson admitted, "with the difficult financial position we find ourselves in. Myself and the other Directors have made significant inroads into that since we came back after Christmas, and I think we have an exciting future ahead of us. It is exciting at the same time that we don't try to run before we walk again, and that things are managed very prudently.
"The Board of Directors financial commitment and contribution to the club is going to increase again during the course of the year. There is significant support being offered by one particular person which is seen as significant sign of intent for the club moving forward. I don't want to disclose the details who that person is, but I am sure people will be able to read between the lines as well."
Papa John's Pizza, a branch of Pat McDonagh's Supermac's empire, has been confirmed to continue as the club's main sponsor.
Turner, who only moved from Oriel Park to the Showgrounds in November, revealed in a recent interview that he had inserted an amazingly unique clause in his contract that allowed him to leave if Connor became a manager at any other League of Ireland club.
Turner admitted to his "love" of working with the Belfast native, who has already signed him three times in brokering moves to Sligo, Bohemians, and most recently Dundalk. Speaking today of the possible additions he may make to the Galway squad, Connor admitted Turner was an option he would have to look at.
"Chris Turner always interests me because in my opinion he is the best player in the League, and if we got him here it would be fabulous. There’s no secret about the clause in his contract that he can come and sign for me. We’ll have to look at that. I’m definitely going to investigate that possibility."
Which may not have pleased the small batch of Sligo Rovers fans in attendance, but financial imperatives at the club may yet scupper that move. Connor also spoke of how he intends to unearth some fresh talent to augment the players who will remain on from last year's squad.
"I think other than Turner, players at Dundalk, it might be difficult because of the budget. There’s certainly players I would like to work with again. But I’m going to do what I did probably in the early days in Sligo and bring in players that are not known. I’m expecting two boys in from New Zealand on trial and we’ll have a couple of players over from England and Scotland.
"I am 100% confident Seamus Conneely will be here. I think John (Russell) has an opportunity to go and look at a club in England and I wouldn’t stand in his way. But if that doesn’t transpire, hopefully with what I’m doing here, I’d like him to be part of it and hopefully he’ll see that as well. Derek O’Brien and Alan Murphy have both given me commitments, Barry Ryan we haven’t met yet but we spoke and I’ll speak to other players in the coming days.
"Everybody who was here last year, we’ll try and see if they’re available for pre-season training. We’ll sit down and speak to them and see how we go. The first thing I need to do now is sit down with Nick and really iron out the budget and the finer details of that. Speak to maybe one or two players that I would like to bring in to the club, and see if I can maybe get them. I’ll be looking everywhere for players, I don’t think I should limit myself to one particular area."
Limits will be in place, though, given the precarious nature of the finances at the club. Club CEO Nick Leeson, however, was keen to point out that measures were being taken to ensure licence criteria were fully met and that financial prudence would be a priority in achieving sustainability into the future.
"It has been a constant fight for us over the past couple of years", Leeson admitted, "with the difficult financial position we find ourselves in. Myself and the other Directors have made significant inroads into that since we came back after Christmas, and I think we have an exciting future ahead of us. It is exciting at the same time that we don't try to run before we walk again, and that things are managed very prudently.
"The Board of Directors financial commitment and contribution to the club is going to increase again during the course of the year. There is significant support being offered by one particular person which is seen as significant sign of intent for the club moving forward. I don't want to disclose the details who that person is, but I am sure people will be able to read between the lines as well."
Papa John's Pizza, a branch of Pat McDonagh's Supermac's empire, has been confirmed to continue as the club's main sponsor.
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile