Westwood Is Not Signing A Player Contract At Shamrock Rovers

The 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division campaign has turned into another exciting one for supporters, as although each clubs own fan base will have their own talking points as most clubs head towards their 28th games of the campaign, even neutral observers will be telling their own tales about the action that has unfolded so far this year.

Shelbourne's rise to the top under often controversial, and straight talking manager, Damien Duff has been one major headline as we head towards September, and on the other side of the coin, 2024 has turned into very tough one for Tallaght outfit, and reigning Champions, Shamrock Rovers.

For those who use tonybet ireland for their little flutters on football, the pre season odds would probably have not represented the fact that the Hoops continue to look like a shadow of themselves from last year. They are not the kind of force that their history would imply they should be, and as I type, they are sat in fifth place in the table, a full ten points behind Duff's leaders - however, they do have a game in hand on them, and two games in hand on the other three sides directly above them.

So with them so far failing to really spark, should they manage to really find their form quickly, the table is open enough for it to still be all to play for. The recent one all draw with Drogheda does not help them on that front though.

Fans of the club will be hoping that their European form continues though, and that this helps bring them more to life in the domestic competition as a result. Thursday's Europa League qualifier against Celje does see them go into the second leg with a 1-0 deficit after the opening Slovenia based tie, but they will be confident of overturning that on home soil, but ahead of the game we have seen the return of transfer rumblings surrounding ex Ireland international goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

The 39 year old, 21 capped former Irish player had a pretty solid professional career with numerous clubs in the English game, and he was still plying his trade as a back up option at League Two side Crewe Alexandra in their 2023/24 campaign.

Having previously been linked with a move to Shamrock Rovers back in 2023, whilst that move obviously did not materialise, with him being spotted in the crowd at the recent Drogheda match, it has again sent the rumour mill into overdrive that there could again potentially be a deal to be done.

Manager Stephen Bradley was obviously questioned about his appearance in the crowd in his post game interviews with the media, but he insisted that there was no deal, or offer, on the cards as the player himself is exploring his own options about making the step into the world of coaching, and hanging his gloves up for good.

39 year old Bradley went on to say that he had met with Westwood the week previously to simply share a coffee, as the family are locally based and they have a mutual tie in via Gary Deegan. But in any event, there were not discussions about a potential playing future, as Keiren is looking at the coaching route - but he would not be overly drawn on what kinds of coaching discussions may, or may not, have been had over the coffee.

It is one worth potentially watching, but as of yet there does not seem to be much in it.