The Update - January
Credit:
With a mixture of transfer speculation and bizarre stories the month of January proved to be a busy period in League of Ireland circles.
There is still some time (Feb 15th) before clubs discover whether they have been granted a licence for the new season or not, but every club has been involved in some sort of business over the past month. So here is an attempt at a recap for January:
Bohemians: The Premier Division champions have lined up seven new recruits - Barry Murphy (Shamrock Rovers), Chris O'Connor (Bray Wanderers), Steven Gray, Gareth McGlynn, Ruaidhri Higgins (all Derry City), Raffale Cretaro (Sligo Rovers) and Mark Quigley (St Patrick's Athletic) - but have to wait for their budget to get the green light from the FAI before they parade them around Dalymount Park holding the team's new jerseys aloft.
Of course, the big news that concerned The Gypsies in the first month of 2010 was the will-he-go-or-will-he-stay episode with manager Pat Fenlon. After being offered the top job with Dundee United he expressed an eagerness to take it on, but Bohs stood firm on a compensation deal they believed they were owed. In the end, Dundee walked away and Fenlon stayed put.
Bray Wanderers: Could they be about to line out for a season with the youngest ever squad in the history of the league? Eddie Gormley's tight budget and relegation from the top flight means that he has to rely on youth for the 2010 campaign.
Cork City: From one disaster to another, The Leesiders, at the time of writing, are involved in a new takeover bid with unpopular chairman Tom Coughlan agreeing to walk away from the club - not before he fined six of last year's squad members for protesting against his reign.
Will they survive? Will they be granted a Premier Division licence? Will Roddy Collins still be the manager when the season kicks off? There has been more cliffhangers with the club over the past month than there were in the entire series of 'Dream Team'.
Derry City: Rumours have been circulating that the club may be seeking a move away from The Brandywell as the new board try to get them back to a solid footing. With Stephen Kenny in charge they are certainly making strides in that area as he has convinced players like Gerard Doherty, Kevin Deery, Barry Molloy and Mark Farren to stick around for another year. They could be a force to be reckoned with in the First Division, if that is where they are to land.
Drogheda United: For The Boynesiders the mission is to build on last year when they clinched top flight survival against all the odds. The captures of Corie Treacy (Shamrock Rovers), Damien Brennan (Shelbourne), Michael Daly (Dundalk), Gareth O'Connor (St Patrick's Athletic) and Ross Gaynor (Sporting Fingal) indicate they are on the right road in that regard. Could they be the dark horses to clinch a European spot?
Dundalk: With Sean Connor and Ian Foster completing their musical chairs routine in swapping clubs, the focus is now on Foster to construct a squad that is good enough to match or better what Connor achieved last term. By bringing in Matt Gregg, Neale Fenn (both Bohemians), Alan Cawley (St Patrick's Athletic) and Wayne Hatswell (Cambridge United) he has taken the first steps. Watswell should be a key signing as he will act as assistant manager as well as veteran centre-back. More players should flood into Oriel Park over the coming weeks.
Galway United: Financial worries were eased somewhat by a cash injection by an investor, but a cloud of mystery still hovers over Terryland Park as Sean Connor sets about recruiting new players. Shane Guthrie, Vinny Faherty (both St Patrick's Athletic), Iarflaith Davoren (Sligo Rovers) and Sean Kelly (Limerick) have all followed Aaron Greene (Peterborough United) out the exit door. All eyes will be on Connor to see if he can work his transfer magic at his fourth League of Ireland club, even though he hasn't worked with a budget this small yet.
Shamrock Rovers: Whether they like it or not The Hoops are already being mentioned as potential champions. Michael O'Neill might find that tag to be a heavy burden, but with the likes of Enda Stevens (St Patrick's Athletic), James Chambers (Drogheda United), Billy Dennehy (Cork City) and possibly Chris Turner (Dundalk via Sligo Rovers?) all coming in this year it is no surprise why they are being tipped to push Bohemians all the way....again. One to watch for this season will be Craig Walsh, who featured on the Sky One programme 'Football's Next Star' before signing on with the Tallaght-based club.
Sligo Rovers: The transfer tussle over Chris Turner might be currently on their minds, but the captures of Iarflaith Davoren (Galway United), Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers) and Padraig Amond (Shamrock Rovers) as well as re-signing the bulk of last year's squad should leave Sligo fans feeling confident about the new season. They could still do with another striker and a back-up keeper though. They are definitely in safe hands with manager Paul Cook and will be a strong team this season.
St Patrick's Athletic: After the disappointment of 2009, The Saints will be hoping for a better showing in the league this time out with Pete Mahon controlling the reigns on a full-time basis. The former UCD boss has made some of the most interesting signings of the transfer window so far in Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Gareth Coughlan, Paul Byrne (all Bray Wanderers), Ian Bermingham (Shamrock Rovers), Shane Guthrie, Vinny Faherty (both Galway United), Brian Cash (Sligo Rovers), Conor Sinnott (Wexford Youths), David McAllister (Shelbourne) and Alex Williams (Dundalk). Plus it also looks likely that they will be able to hang onto Ryan Guy for another season.
Athlone Town: Brendan Place has showed that he is prepared to give young players a chance in the First Division after recruiting the likes of Mark Nolan (Bohemians), Kevin Quinn (Shamrock Rovers), Brendan Turley (Shelbourne), David Bracken (Lissadel United), Richie O’Halloran (Crumlin United) and Shane Nolan (Belgrove FC). If things can click into the place for them, then they could just surprise a few people this year.
Finn Harps: By retaining the services of seven players from last year's squad, including talented keeper Ciaran Gallagher, Packie Mailey and Michael Funston, Harps will be aiming to improve on last year's 8th place finish in the second tier. The odds will be stacked against them, but they wouldn't want it any other way.
Limerick FC: Pat Scully knows a thing or two about signing the right kind of players. He proved it when in charge of Kilkenny City and at Shamrock Rovers, now he is doing it with Limerick by bringing in players such as Sean Kelly (Galway United). The return to Markets Field may also help them attract more fans to their games.
Longford Town: It may feel like an extended period since Longford were in Europe and battling for cup silverware. Tony Cousins wants to change all that and by bringing in players like Chris Deans (Bray Wanderers), John Lester (St Patrick's Athletic) and Peter Hynes (Shelbourne) to bulk up their squad, he has given their supporters some hope that they can re-emerge as a competitive force.
Mervue United: Tom French has replaced Johnny Glynn as manager and taken on a big challenge with the Galway-based outfit. Whether he can convince the best local players to snub moves to neighbours Galway United and Salthill Devon and link up with them remains to be seen.
Monaghan United: It is never easy for Monaghan to keep hold of their best players as it showed with young keeper Aaron McCarey departing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Mick Cooke has been doing a fine job there over the past few years and is showing no sign of slowing down with Aidan Lynch, Philip Donnelly and Karl Bermingham all re-signing, while Darren Kelly, Philly Hughes (both Kildare County), Anthony Costigan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Austin O’Neill (Limerick) and Aidan Collins (Sporting Fingal) have all come in.
Shelbourne: As he told Extra Time recently, Dermot Keely sees this as a 'make or break year' for The Reds. Following two near misses on the promotion front, he wants to make sure he gets it right this term. So he has brought in Steve Williams, Paul Shiels, Robbie Clarke (all Drogheda United), Sean Byrne (Bohemians), Gareth Whelan, Eric Foley, Dinny Corcoran (all Sporting Fingal) as well as loaning the strike duo of Andy Haran (St Patrick's Athletic) and Marc Hughes (Bohemians). They will surely be in the mix for top spot.
Sporting Fingal: Following the dream year they had in 2009 with promotion, European football and lifting the FAI Cup, it will be hard for The Ravens to top that. However, they have grand ambitions of competing at the top of the Premier Division and with signings like Brendan Clarke (St Patrick's Athletic), Ger O'Brien (Derry City), Kenny Browne (Waterford United), Ronan Finn (UCD), Keith Quinn (Sheffield United), Shane Barrett (Drogheda United) and Glen Crowe (Bohemians) it is easy to see why they are aiming so high.
UCD: They might be back in the top flight, but The Students are preparing for a tough season after losing their star player from last year, Ronan Finn. However, the club's ability to produce exciting young players should result in Martin Russell's side springing a few surprises over the coming months.
Waterford United: Promotion will again be the main target for The Blues after enjoying a fine year in 2009 that saw them claim many cup scalps and reach the final of the EA Sports Cup. Stephen Henderson has lost a few key players, but with Chris Konopka (Sporting Fingal), Gareth Cambridge (Cork City) and Liam Kearney (Derry City) coming in, they should be a force to be reckoned with once again.
Wexford Youths: The big news for The Warriors is that Mick Wallace has stepped down from managing the first team with Noel O'Connor. That shouldn't be a huge change as O'Connor had been training the team, but he will have to do without the player who acted as the driving force in their midfield for the last two years, Conor Sinnott as he has linked up with St Patrick's Athletic.
If you think that we have missed any piece of confirmed news or transfer deal, let us know by registering with us and leaving a comment below.
There is still some time (Feb 15th) before clubs discover whether they have been granted a licence for the new season or not, but every club has been involved in some sort of business over the past month. So here is an attempt at a recap for January:
Bohemians: The Premier Division champions have lined up seven new recruits - Barry Murphy (Shamrock Rovers), Chris O'Connor (Bray Wanderers), Steven Gray, Gareth McGlynn, Ruaidhri Higgins (all Derry City), Raffale Cretaro (Sligo Rovers) and Mark Quigley (St Patrick's Athletic) - but have to wait for their budget to get the green light from the FAI before they parade them around Dalymount Park holding the team's new jerseys aloft.
Of course, the big news that concerned The Gypsies in the first month of 2010 was the will-he-go-or-will-he-stay episode with manager Pat Fenlon. After being offered the top job with Dundee United he expressed an eagerness to take it on, but Bohs stood firm on a compensation deal they believed they were owed. In the end, Dundee walked away and Fenlon stayed put.
Bray Wanderers: Could they be about to line out for a season with the youngest ever squad in the history of the league? Eddie Gormley's tight budget and relegation from the top flight means that he has to rely on youth for the 2010 campaign.
Cork City: From one disaster to another, The Leesiders, at the time of writing, are involved in a new takeover bid with unpopular chairman Tom Coughlan agreeing to walk away from the club - not before he fined six of last year's squad members for protesting against his reign.
Will they survive? Will they be granted a Premier Division licence? Will Roddy Collins still be the manager when the season kicks off? There has been more cliffhangers with the club over the past month than there were in the entire series of 'Dream Team'.
Derry City: Rumours have been circulating that the club may be seeking a move away from The Brandywell as the new board try to get them back to a solid footing. With Stephen Kenny in charge they are certainly making strides in that area as he has convinced players like Gerard Doherty, Kevin Deery, Barry Molloy and Mark Farren to stick around for another year. They could be a force to be reckoned with in the First Division, if that is where they are to land.
Drogheda United: For The Boynesiders the mission is to build on last year when they clinched top flight survival against all the odds. The captures of Corie Treacy (Shamrock Rovers), Damien Brennan (Shelbourne), Michael Daly (Dundalk), Gareth O'Connor (St Patrick's Athletic) and Ross Gaynor (Sporting Fingal) indicate they are on the right road in that regard. Could they be the dark horses to clinch a European spot?
Dundalk: With Sean Connor and Ian Foster completing their musical chairs routine in swapping clubs, the focus is now on Foster to construct a squad that is good enough to match or better what Connor achieved last term. By bringing in Matt Gregg, Neale Fenn (both Bohemians), Alan Cawley (St Patrick's Athletic) and Wayne Hatswell (Cambridge United) he has taken the first steps. Watswell should be a key signing as he will act as assistant manager as well as veteran centre-back. More players should flood into Oriel Park over the coming weeks.
Galway United: Financial worries were eased somewhat by a cash injection by an investor, but a cloud of mystery still hovers over Terryland Park as Sean Connor sets about recruiting new players. Shane Guthrie, Vinny Faherty (both St Patrick's Athletic), Iarflaith Davoren (Sligo Rovers) and Sean Kelly (Limerick) have all followed Aaron Greene (Peterborough United) out the exit door. All eyes will be on Connor to see if he can work his transfer magic at his fourth League of Ireland club, even though he hasn't worked with a budget this small yet.
Shamrock Rovers: Whether they like it or not The Hoops are already being mentioned as potential champions. Michael O'Neill might find that tag to be a heavy burden, but with the likes of Enda Stevens (St Patrick's Athletic), James Chambers (Drogheda United), Billy Dennehy (Cork City) and possibly Chris Turner (Dundalk via Sligo Rovers?) all coming in this year it is no surprise why they are being tipped to push Bohemians all the way....again. One to watch for this season will be Craig Walsh, who featured on the Sky One programme 'Football's Next Star' before signing on with the Tallaght-based club.
Sligo Rovers: The transfer tussle over Chris Turner might be currently on their minds, but the captures of Iarflaith Davoren (Galway United), Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers) and Padraig Amond (Shamrock Rovers) as well as re-signing the bulk of last year's squad should leave Sligo fans feeling confident about the new season. They could still do with another striker and a back-up keeper though. They are definitely in safe hands with manager Paul Cook and will be a strong team this season.
St Patrick's Athletic: After the disappointment of 2009, The Saints will be hoping for a better showing in the league this time out with Pete Mahon controlling the reigns on a full-time basis. The former UCD boss has made some of the most interesting signings of the transfer window so far in Derek Pender, Dave Mulcahy, Gareth Coughlan, Paul Byrne (all Bray Wanderers), Ian Bermingham (Shamrock Rovers), Shane Guthrie, Vinny Faherty (both Galway United), Brian Cash (Sligo Rovers), Conor Sinnott (Wexford Youths), David McAllister (Shelbourne) and Alex Williams (Dundalk). Plus it also looks likely that they will be able to hang onto Ryan Guy for another season.
Athlone Town: Brendan Place has showed that he is prepared to give young players a chance in the First Division after recruiting the likes of Mark Nolan (Bohemians), Kevin Quinn (Shamrock Rovers), Brendan Turley (Shelbourne), David Bracken (Lissadel United), Richie O’Halloran (Crumlin United) and Shane Nolan (Belgrove FC). If things can click into the place for them, then they could just surprise a few people this year.
Finn Harps: By retaining the services of seven players from last year's squad, including talented keeper Ciaran Gallagher, Packie Mailey and Michael Funston, Harps will be aiming to improve on last year's 8th place finish in the second tier. The odds will be stacked against them, but they wouldn't want it any other way.
Limerick FC: Pat Scully knows a thing or two about signing the right kind of players. He proved it when in charge of Kilkenny City and at Shamrock Rovers, now he is doing it with Limerick by bringing in players such as Sean Kelly (Galway United). The return to Markets Field may also help them attract more fans to their games.
Longford Town: It may feel like an extended period since Longford were in Europe and battling for cup silverware. Tony Cousins wants to change all that and by bringing in players like Chris Deans (Bray Wanderers), John Lester (St Patrick's Athletic) and Peter Hynes (Shelbourne) to bulk up their squad, he has given their supporters some hope that they can re-emerge as a competitive force.
Mervue United: Tom French has replaced Johnny Glynn as manager and taken on a big challenge with the Galway-based outfit. Whether he can convince the best local players to snub moves to neighbours Galway United and Salthill Devon and link up with them remains to be seen.
Monaghan United: It is never easy for Monaghan to keep hold of their best players as it showed with young keeper Aaron McCarey departing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Mick Cooke has been doing a fine job there over the past few years and is showing no sign of slowing down with Aidan Lynch, Philip Donnelly and Karl Bermingham all re-signing, while Darren Kelly, Philly Hughes (both Kildare County), Anthony Costigan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Austin O’Neill (Limerick) and Aidan Collins (Sporting Fingal) have all come in.
Shelbourne: As he told Extra Time recently, Dermot Keely sees this as a 'make or break year' for The Reds. Following two near misses on the promotion front, he wants to make sure he gets it right this term. So he has brought in Steve Williams, Paul Shiels, Robbie Clarke (all Drogheda United), Sean Byrne (Bohemians), Gareth Whelan, Eric Foley, Dinny Corcoran (all Sporting Fingal) as well as loaning the strike duo of Andy Haran (St Patrick's Athletic) and Marc Hughes (Bohemians). They will surely be in the mix for top spot.
Sporting Fingal: Following the dream year they had in 2009 with promotion, European football and lifting the FAI Cup, it will be hard for The Ravens to top that. However, they have grand ambitions of competing at the top of the Premier Division and with signings like Brendan Clarke (St Patrick's Athletic), Ger O'Brien (Derry City), Kenny Browne (Waterford United), Ronan Finn (UCD), Keith Quinn (Sheffield United), Shane Barrett (Drogheda United) and Glen Crowe (Bohemians) it is easy to see why they are aiming so high.
UCD: They might be back in the top flight, but The Students are preparing for a tough season after losing their star player from last year, Ronan Finn. However, the club's ability to produce exciting young players should result in Martin Russell's side springing a few surprises over the coming months.
Waterford United: Promotion will again be the main target for The Blues after enjoying a fine year in 2009 that saw them claim many cup scalps and reach the final of the EA Sports Cup. Stephen Henderson has lost a few key players, but with Chris Konopka (Sporting Fingal), Gareth Cambridge (Cork City) and Liam Kearney (Derry City) coming in, they should be a force to be reckoned with once again.
Wexford Youths: The big news for The Warriors is that Mick Wallace has stepped down from managing the first team with Noel O'Connor. That shouldn't be a huge change as O'Connor had been training the team, but he will have to do without the player who acted as the driving force in their midfield for the last two years, Conor Sinnott as he has linked up with St Patrick's Athletic.
If you think that we have missed any piece of confirmed news or transfer deal, let us know by registering with us and leaving a comment below.
