2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

[Kingswood Rover]

I think Kenny is quite good. His touch and link up play are usually decent when I’ve seen him but he’s usually horrendous in front of goal. I think it’s a confidence issue with him. If he can bag a few goals and go on a run he could be v good.
Kenny has real potential, he is very quick, has a great touch and can turn defenders at ease. Yes his finishing has been poor but is he even 20 yet? hopefully he is with us next year and can convert more of the chances he gets.

[Jack B]

Surprised by the mention of a fee being thrown around for McCormack, seemed to be assumed that he was out of contract but perhaps not. Good player in there but it's a matter of getting it out of him as there were some question marks over him at Pats. I think he'll probably be more of an impactful signing for Waterford than he would have been Dundalk.

[total hoofball]

I believe McCormack was out of contract at Pats but they would still be entitled to the usual u23 compensation fee as he is still only 20

I can't see Waterford having to pay any crazy sum as he only made 21 first team starts with 49 substitute appearances over 4 seasons, with him playing there under 3 different managers with no contract renewal being offered doesn't sound like Pats believe he was going to be a top LOI player

[Dermobohs]

Afolabi is a huge loss for us, nigh on impossible to pick up lads that good in this league. Wish him all the best, never ever gave it less than flat out effort, and a lovely lad too.

[Nesta99]

Surprised by the mention of a fee being thrown around for McCormack, seemed to be assumed that he was out of contract but perhaps not. Good player in there but it's a matter of getting it out of him as there were some question marks over him at Pats. I think he'll probably be more of an impactful signing for Waterford than he would have been Dundalk.

Right now any signing for Dundalk will feel like an impactful signing.

[SeanDrog]

Rumours that Dundalk and a few others were after Evan Weir but just announced that he is now with Walsaw FC and on loan to Drogs till the summer at least.

[Nesta99]

Rumours that Dundalk and a few others were after Evan Weir but just announced that he is now with Walsaw FC and on loan to Drogs till the summer at least.

This could end up being an interesting case in due course. A player moving from a club to another club having the same owner with a fee and then loan back. Not a big deal in this case but could be if top clubs use this loophole in muticlub ownership to manipulate FFP. Hypothetical, Sheik Mansour owns Man City and say Valencia, City are pushing limits on players they can sign for major money so Valencia sign the player and then the player is loaned to City. It may be happening already but on a scale below the radar but I can see the potential for abuse meaning a rule change which would then change the whole 'feeder club' setup. Waterford/Fleetwood, Drogs/Walsall, Shels/Hull wont cause a furore but its only a matter of time that it does elsewhere and that could be a problem for these linkups if their purpoe ends up being limited.

[Longfordian]

Chris Lyons has signed for LTFC. Could be a useful addition.

[sulywaterfordfc]

This could end up being an interesting case in due course. A player moving from a club to another club having the same owner with a fee and then loan back. Not a big deal in this case but could be if top clubs use this loophole in muticlub ownership to manipulate FFP. Hypothetical, Sheik Mansour owns Man City and say Valencia, City are pushing limits on players they can sign for major money so Valencia sign the player and then the player is loaned to City. It may be happening already but on a scale below the radar but I can see the potential for abuse meaning a rule change which would then change the whole 'feeder club' setup. Waterford/Fleetwood, Drogs/Walsall, Shels/Hull wont cause a furore but its only a matter of time that it does elsewhere and that could be a problem for these linkups if their purpoe ends up being limited.

Wasn’t it announced the Hull owner relinquished his shares in Shels club and handed them back to the board for free?

[outspoken]

Chris Lyons has signed for LTFC. Could be a useful addition.

A player you hate when he's on the opposite side, a proper pain in the hoop. Good addition.

[2 Year Contract]

Adam Murphy on his way to Bristol City. Pats will get almost €250k compensation though which is great money for any player that’s out of contract

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/11925964/st-patricks-athletic-adam-murphy-bristol-city/

[oriel]

Surprised by the mention of a fee being thrown around for McCormack, seemed to be assumed that he was out of contract but perhaps not. Good player in there but it's a matter of getting it out of him as there were some question marks over him at Pats. I think he'll probably be more of an impactful signing for Waterford than he would have been Dundalk.

Seems the move was driven by Pats not wanting to do business with Dundalk as opposed to any compensation to agree, odd if true, but nothing really should surprise these days in LOI.

[Shearer]

Sean Guerins and Conor Barry leave Treaty United.

Will be tough going with a relatively young squad so far.

[sulywaterfordfc]

I believe McCormack was out of contract at Pats but they would still be entitled to the usual u23 compensation fee as he is still only 20

I can't see Waterford having to pay any crazy sum as he only made 21 first team starts with 49 substitute appearances over 4 seasons, with him playing there under 3 different managers with no contract renewal being offered doesn't sound like Pats believe he was going to be a top LOI player

He was on a long term contract at Pats by all accounts. Probably the reason why he wasn’t offered a new contract, as he wasn’t out of contract…

“Ben McCormack signs for Waterford for an undisclosed fee”. No mention of compensation/out of contract. Taking from St. Pats themselves.

[D24Saint]

Adam Murphy on his way to Bristol City. Pats will get almost €250k compensation though which is great money for any player that’s out of contract

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/11925964/st-patricks-athletic-adam-murphy-bristol-city/

That’s a huge blow. We will need to replace him quick and we need a RB in aswell.

[2 Year Contract]

That’s a huge blow. We will need to replace him quick and we need a RB in aswell.

Can’t see a third right back being brought in. Definitely need another centre midfielder though, and another centre back too if one of McGrath or Norman aren’t here next year (both still TBC)

[Jack B]

Can’t see a third right back being brought in. Definitely need another centre midfielder though, and another centre back too if one of McGrath or Norman aren’t here next year (both still TBC)

Agreed, I think McLaughlin was probably signed in the first place with a view to replacing Curtis. Fitness allowing he and Sjoberg should be good. The squad looks pretty good overall but needs some depth in the other positions at the back and a good replacement for Murphy/Lyness would be nice.

[total hoofball]

He was on a long term contract at Pats by all accounts. Probably the reason why he wasn’t offered a new contract, as he wasn’t out of contract…

“Ben McCormack signs for Waterford for an undisclosed fee”. No mention of compensation/out of contract. Taking from St. Pats themselves.

Well by all accounts from the Indo and Dundalk Democrat last month during Dundalk's interest he was out of contract at Pats. Also nothing further from Pats regarding any change in his contract status since they announced contract extensions for both McCormack and Burns back in July 2021

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/dundalk-fc-linked-with-move-for-st-patricks-athletic-midfielder-ben-mccormack/a1708252651.html

https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/969999/stephen-odonnell-re-signs-three-more-dundalk-players-for-the-2023-season.html

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8947

[D24Saint]

Agreed, I think McLaughlin was probably signed in the first place with a view to replacing Curtis. Fitness allowing he and Sjoberg should be good. The squad looks pretty good overall but needs some depth in the other positions at the back and a good replacement for Murphy/Lyness would be nice.

I’d have some faith in McLaughlin but not Sjoberg tbh. He isn’t good enough to be a regular RB at this level and he is constantly plagued by injuries.

[Jack B]

I’d have some faith in McLaughlin but not Sjoberg tbh. He isn’t good enough to be a regular RB at this level and he is constantly plagued by injuries.

Hard to know with Sjoberg as he really barely played, he looked alright when he did and they obviously rate him enough to have kept him on, all going well he'll likely only be second choice anyway. Thought McLaughlin looked good when he played but he had Curtis ahead of him and had been without a club for a while so building up his fitness was an issue. He's got a good 150+ games across the Championship, SPL, League One and international level in his career though which by LOI standards is quite impressive, so with a good run of fitness I can see him being a perfectly able replacement even if not at the ridiculous level Curtis was. We've currently got three centre backs including Grivosti coming off an ACL injury and only one left back in Breslin so I'd see both positions as more of a priority for adding depth to right now.

[sulywaterfordfc]

Well by all accounts from the Indo and Dundalk Democrat last month during Dundalk's interest he was out of contract at Pats. Also nothing further from Pats regarding any change in his contract status since they announced contract extensions for both McCormack and Burns back in July 2021

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/dundalk-fc-linked-with-move-for-st-patricks-athletic-midfielder-ben-mccormack/a1708252651.html

https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/969999/stephen-odonnell-re-signs-three-more-dundalk-players-for-the-2023-season.html

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8947

The wordings from Pats and the statement by Waterford have no mention of the player being out of contract. Imo it appears as though it is an actual transfer. Doesn’t matter hugely to be truth. I’m happy with the signing likewise is the fan base. Need several more incomings still, think we’ve 15 signed atm.

[2 Year Contract]

Hard to know with Sjoberg as he really barely played, he looked alright when he did and they obviously rate him enough to have kept him on, all going well he'll likely only be second choice anyway. Thought McLaughlin looked good when he played but he had Curtis ahead of him and had been without a club for a while so building up his fitness was an issue. He's got a good 150+ games across the Championship, SPL, League One and international level in his career though which by LOI standards is quite impressive, so with a good run of fitness I can see him being a perfectly able replacement even if not at the ridiculous level Curtis was. We've currently got three centre backs including Grivosti coming off an ACL injury and only one left back in Breslin so I'd see both positions as more of a priority for adding depth to right now.

Good point on Breslin. He missed a couple of games through suspension in 2022 but other than that he’s started pretty much every game for the last 2 years and we had no backup left back in the squad last season. If that free run of injuries ends then we’d be snookered really. McClelland can and has filled in there in the past (along with most positions on the pitch!) but if Breslin was to pick up a long term injury without another natural LB in the squad it would massively affect the team IMO

[Jack B]

Good point on Breslin. He missed a couple of games through suspension in 2022 but other than that he’s started pretty much every game for the last 2 years and we had no backup left back in the squad last season. If that free run of injuries ends then we’d be snookered really. McClelland can and has filled in there in the past (along with most positions on the pitch!) but if Breslin was to pick up a long term injury without another natural LB in the squad it would massively affect the team IMO

Yeah I think we've been fortunate with Breslin's availability, great trait to have mind! I suppose if we were to re-sign either Norman or McGrath then being left footed they could cover that final centre back position as well as Breslin if in a pinch though, as can McClelland as you say although he's been a bit ropey there on the rare times he's filled in there. Overall we're looking good but if I were being greedy I wouldn't say no to any of another keeper (Lyness/replacement for him), centre back, left back, centre mid (Murphy replacement) or winger.

[2 Year Contract]

Hoban set to be sold to Derry this week for a ‘small undisclosed fee’

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/patrick-hobans-departure-from-dundalk-fc-expected-to-be-confirmed-this-week-as-search-for-new-players-continues/a1282676674.html

[RealJohn91]

Jaysus, that's grim reading and I'm not even a Dundalk fan.

[D24Saint]

Jaysus, that's grim reading and I'm not even a Dundalk fan.

Certainly is. What’s the story with the new owner is he pumping any investment into the club or just a placeholder.

[joey B]

Jamie McGonigle departed Derry for Coleraine….

[D24Saint]

Darragh Burns announced at Castle Wolfenstein (Tallaght stadium)

[Poor Student]

Darragh Burns announced at castle greyskull (Tallaght stadium)

You know Castle Greyskull is the home of the good guys right?

[D24Saint]

You know Castle Greyskull is the home of the good guys right?

Sounded dodgy as a kid. Delete that post.

[D24Saint]

You know Castle Greyskull is the home of the good guys right?

That one any better ? ?

[Jack B]

Great signing for Rovers, think Burns has just had an unlucky time of it in England and is more so a classic case of a player choosing the wrong club at the wrong time rather than there being any lack of ability. Bit of a weird one with him in that he couldn't come across as more of a Pats lad in terms of coming up through the academy, the way he spoke to folk about the club, regularly turning up to games as a fan since he left etc, but there were also murmurs that he wanted a move to Rovers even before going abroad materialised so this seemed inevitable.

[Calcio Jack]

Great signing for Rovers, think Burns has just had an unlucky time of it in England and is more so a classic case of a player choosing the wrong club at the wrong time rather than there being any lack of ability. Bit of a weird one with him in that he couldn't come across as more of a Pats lad in terms of coming up through the academy, the way he spoke to folk about the club, regularly turning up to games as a fan since he left etc, but there were also murmurs that he wanted a move to Rovers even before going abroad materialised so this seemed inevitable.

“…. Money doesn’t talk… “ etc

[Jd2793]

hope rovers dont play him as a wing back. one of the best wingers ive seen play here over the last 10 years.

[D24Saint]

hope rovers dont play him as a wing back. one of the best wingers ive seen play here over the last 10 years.

On form he is explosive but can be moody. If Bradley handles him right he will be a good signing.

[ger121]

Darragh Burns announced at Castle Wolfenstein (Tallaght stadium)


You know Castle Greyskull is the home of the good guys right?


Sounded dodgy as a kid. Delete that post.

I just call it Mordor.

[D24Saint]

I just call it Mordor.

Solid policy

[total hoofball]

The wordings from Pats and the statement by Waterford have no mention of the player being out of contract. Imo it appears as though it is an actual transfer. Doesn’t matter hugely to be truth. I’m happy with the signing likewise is the fan base. Need several more incomings still, think we’ve 15 signed atm.
Pat's made no statement and Waterford's statement did not go into deep details other an undisclosed fee was involved, it's still technically a 'transfer' for an out-of-contract player involving a developmental fee as he was on an expired professional contract while under 23 years of age

[total hoofball]

Hoban set to be sold to Derry this week for a ‘small undisclosed fee’

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/patrick-hobans-departure-from-dundalk-fc-expected-to-be-confirmed-this-week-as-search-for-new-players-continues/a1282676674.html
Really is staggering incompetence by Dundalk to have told him in October that he was surplus to requirements without finalising their attempts to source investment

[oriel]

Totally agree, the only item I will raise in their defence is change of ownership was in between all of this, that said its just a mess.

[ontheotherhand]

I just call it Mordor.

You can call it Mor anything. Trophies for a start.

Happy new year Ger.

[Nesta99]

Hoban could recognise the change in circumstances and back down. No issue with saving face as new ownership is all that needs to be pointed out. There is more to this than is the public domain. How about it being about a player that is getting toward the sell by date, wants a last decent payday, doesnt want damage to any legacy as a club legend so calls it as being forced out. If he was offered a new contract with an extension he'd stick. Id be surprised if he wasnt told that the club wants him to stay and contract talks start summer 24, where by then maybe he'd not be in as strog a position to make demands. Unless there is a falling out with management.

Its not the 1st time there has been contract issues with the same player/agent.

Id have liked to see him stay but in an adapted role where he plays deeper, behind or beside a new striker, and not just up top on his own. He can finish when chances are created of course but we werent providing him the service he thrves on last season - he roamed and got on the ball and claimed plenty of assists. More than his goals will be missed. That said Im not convinced that he will be that prolific at Derry as he is evolving away from a out and out striker with age.

[placid casual]

I just call it Mordor.
So did taggart.

[placid casual]

Burns is a great signing for Rovers (hopefully). Also talk of the possibility of Aaron Mceniff coming back to play for the Hoops,which would be just dandy

[Jd2793]

derry getting hoban, how boring. how many is that now from dundalks great team? any chance of a bit of imagination up there

[Knocklyonhoop]

Hoban could recognise the change in circumstances and back down. No issue with saving face as new ownership is all that needs to be pointed out. There is more to this than is the public domain. How about it being about a player that is getting toward the sell by date, wants a last decent payday, doesnt want damage to any legacy as a club legend so calls it as being forced out. If he was offered a new contract with an extension he'd stick. Id be surprised if he wasnt told that the club wants him to stay and contract talks start summer 24, where by then maybe he'd not be in as strog a position to make demands. Unless there is a falling out with management.

Its not the 1st time there has been contract issues with the same player/agent.

Id have liked to see him stay but in an adapted role where he plays deeper, behind or beside a new striker, and not just up top on his own. He can finish when chances are created of course but we werent providing him the service he thrves on last season - he roamed and got on the ball and claimed plenty of assists. More than his goals will be missed. That said Im not convinced that he will be that prolific at Derry as he is evolving away from a out and out striker with age.

a last decent pay day (presume it’s longer contract than the yr he had left at Dundalk?) and a better chance of a few more medals. But bizarre for Dundalk to let him go for a nominal sum

[Knocklyonhoop]

hope rovers dont play him as a wing back. one of the best wingers ive seen play here over the last 10 years.

if he can be as good as Farrugia was a WB I’d be happy!

[joey B]

You’d have to think Daryl Horgan is regretting moving back to Dundalk,2 and half years ago he was playing for Ireland and now it looks like he’ll be playing for mid table at best for Dundalk ….

[pineapple stu]

Dundalk, Sligo and Drogheda looking the obvious relegation candidates at this stage you'd have thought?

[joey B]

Dundalk, Sligo and Drogheda looking the obvious relegation candidates at this stage you'd have thought?

It’s probably early days to call who’ll be in danger,you’d imagine Galway and Waterford will be looking to add strikers to their squads yet,I’d say it’ll be a proper dogfight though no UCD’s, Harps or Cork’s !! to make life easier for them!