Higgins and Doherty re-sign for Derry

Derry City fans finally received some good news after a trying few weeks, when Rhuadhri Higgins and Gerard Doherty both re-signed for the Candystripes on long term deals.

It’s been a tumultuous time for the City fans, with the loss of their manager to Shamrock Rovers, player of the year Stewart Greacen leaving for Glentoran, top scorer Eamon Zayed looking likely to depart for Iran and playmaker Gareth McGlynn emigrating to Australia, so the news of two of the more experienced squad members from last year putting pen to paper will be of great relief to everyone on Foyleside.

Doherty has signed a three year extension to his contract, bringing him to 2015 and supporters will be particularly pleased as he had been linked with following Stephen Kenny to Tallaght. After signing, he said, “There was a lot of speculation about me and other clubs, so hopefully this puts everything to bed, once and for all,” Doherty told The Londonderry Sentinel.

“There was some doom and gloom after Stephen (Kenny) left and a few other players have gone, but that’s football and things move on and that’s what we as a club have to do.”

Higgins put his name on a two year deal, calming the fears of some supporters who had been fearing the worst after the departures of the previous few weeks. He said, “I have agreed a two year deal and hope to sign it today and I’m glad to finally get my future sorted”.

“There was a lot of negative vibes going about after Stephen left to Shamrock Rovers and to be honest I was worried about what way the club was going in the future, but I had a good chat with Philip O’Doherty and Sean Barrett and they left me in no doubt that they are ambitious, so I have no hesitation in agreeing a new deal.”

Words that will indeed be soothing for the Derry fans.