Kevin Doherty on the intent of Drogheda United’s new owners Trivela

Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty prepares for another season of tough battles in a bid to stay in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Boynesiders managed to go one better than the previous year, finishing seventh above Sligo Rovers, Cork City and bottom placed UCD.

This year they face being the only part time team in the league in regard to their squad with Doherty taking up a full time role as manager.

Drogheda were able to retain most of their squad, with Dayle Rooney and Conor Keeley being the exceptions to this signing for Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic respectively.

However with new ownership, they have had the ability to recover the loses, with the signings of key players in those areas of the field.

“We signed Jack Keaney and Frantz Pierrot for instance - they required accommodation so last year we wouldn’t have been able to sign them” Doherty told extratime.com.

“It’s a big improvement brought in by Trivela, the new owner group.”

Another crucial signing was that of John Donohue appointed as academy director after arriving from St Pats.

“What they’ve (St. Pats) done at the academy is really good,” the Drogs boss said.

“With John coming to us, on the football side of it, John is a full-time appointment. It probably shows the intent of Trivela.”

The former Shels defender is pleased with the squad that he has, and the competition for places in the team

“I’m very happy with our lads, knowing their roles and responsibilities and how we’ve been playing.

“Even last night (v Longford Town) there were lads in what might not be their strongest position. It’s something that I want to nail down in pre-season as much as possible. It’s just having that little bit of flexibility in game and depending on position as well.

“I don’t want anybody to be happy to sit on the bench. There will be times this year where we’re in a position that we can change things a couple of times.”

For the third year running Drogheda have strengthened their ties to English League One side Lincoln City.

In 2022 they brought in Sam Long and Ireland U21 Sean Roughan who played pivotal roles in United’s survival. Last season they acquired the services of Elicha Ahui and top scorer Freddie Draper.

This year they have been loaned central defender Haydenn Cann and Irish U19’s midfielder Oisin Gallagher until June.

“He (Cann) played last night (v Longford Town) in a defensive partnership so it’s important and it’s something that we have done the last few years with players who can play in a number of different positions.”

Goalkeeping team

The Drogheda manager was quick to sing the praises of Andrew Wogan ahead of his second year starting between the posts, and new goalkeeper Jethren Barr’s position in the team.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Andy. He has just come in and been excellent. He’s probably sick of hearing and reading about his mentality and temperament but he’s so calm.

“You want to have two goalkeepers helping each other but also in competition with one another.

“It’s great with Jethren coming in. He’s an unbelievably positive person which is the type of person that I want at the club.

“He’s a good goalkeeper with great experience at international level, you can’t get higher than that.”