2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

[The Bowler]

Luke Turner Cliftonville to Pats a really strange one. Very ordinary defender if his time at Wexford was anything to by, and was no great shakes when at Rovers underage

[Shearer]

Kris Twardek has signed for Atletico Ottawa in the Canadian Premier League
While it's his home, that can't be a good standard.

[Dermobohs]

Luke Turner Cliftonville to Pats a really strange one. Very ordinary defender if his time at Wexford was anything to by, and was no great shakes when at Rovers underage

Big fee plus a decent keeper thrown in too?
Mad stuff.

[ontheotherhand]

He was YPotY at Cliftonville. Might have kicked in a bit since his days at Wexford.

[2 Year Contract]

Luke Turner Cliftonville to Pats a really strange one. Very ordinary defender if his time at Wexford was anything to by, and was no great shakes when at Rovers underage

Id say being voted the young player of the year in his league 6 months ago is more relevant than his 10 games with Wexford which were his first games in senior football as an 18 year old. I also don’t think his performances at Rovers as a 15 year old (of which I’m sure you watched many) are of much relevance to Pats signing him now either


Big fee plus a decent keeper thrown in too?
Mad stuff.

You must be mistaken, it was David Odumosu ;)

[2 Year Contract]

While it's his home, that can't be a good standard.

Yeah I watched a couple of games a year or two ago which were strangely televised by Sky Sports at the time. I couldn’t believe how slow the pace of those games were, it was almost walking pace at times. I believe the money is better than the standard of the football though so I can see the appeal to move home for any Canadian lads. David Norman is apparently due to move back home to play for Vancouver FC in that league too

[Jd2793]

Big fee plus a decent keeper thrown in too?
Mad stuff.

swapping out odomusu is decent business. not next or near good enough for most PD teams imo

[Nesta99]

Yeah I watched a couple of games a year or two ago which were strangely televised by Sky Sports at the time. I couldn’t believe how slow the pace of those games were, it was almost walking pace at times. I believe the money is better than the standard of the football though so I can see the appeal to move home for any Canadian lads. David Norman is apparently due to move back home to play for Vancouver FC in that league too

It is strange to watch. FC Edmonton game before they folded, Dean Shields was playing with them and he was yards ahead in anticipating and reading the game and just more urgent getting around. Good player but looked world class in comparison. Came over to speak after the game as the missus was wearing her Dundalk shirt. Canadian international side is pure pace to the point of hectic mayhem at times!? An odd contrast.

[Dermobohs]

The departed Jon Afolabi netted his first in the Belgian league last evening, I think he’ll do well there. Wonder what the moneys like?

[nigel-harps1954]

Yeah I watched a couple of games a year or two ago which were strangely televised by Sky Sports at the time. I couldn’t believe how slow the pace of those games were, it was almost walking pace at times. I believe the money is better than the standard of the football though so I can see the appeal to move home for any Canadian lads. David Norman is apparently due to move back home to play for Vancouver FC in that league too

The money is lower than LOI, for the best part. Minimum wage is $30k Canadian, which is only about €20k, lower than minimum wage for a full time pro in LOI. There's a squad salary cap, teams.must spend a minimum $750k(€515k) and max $1.125m (€773k), and you'd have to presume the majority of full time LOI sides are spending above that.

There's a list of players here from a year or so ago, however accurate it is, is anyone's guess.

https://salarysport.com/football/canadian-premier-league/highest-paid/

[culloty82]

Conor McCarthy has stated that Kerry have concluded their transfer dealings for the winter - should be more solid defensively again than the second half of last season, but looking very light up top, unless Okwute, Kelliher and Kennedy all chip in with double digits in the league, which seems unlikely.

[RealJohn91]

It took four games but there's finally some trialists in the Bohs team for the friendly against Celtic B today. A goalkeeper and defender by the looks of it.

[desaintsno.12]

Could be untrue but I've seen a figure of 80k mentioned by people for Turner, if any side pays that or anything approaching it for a player in this league I'd say it's safe to say they'll be a starter.

Can't imagine Pats signed Keeley with the idea of him being a back-up though, could see us using a back 3/5 quite a bit this season if this ended up happening.

80k figure not even close to being accurate btw

[joey B]

Tommy Lonergan’s moving to Fleetwood for 60k according to Dan McDonnell.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Tommy Lonergan’s moving to Fleetwood for 60k according to Dan McDonnell.

If he ends up going to Waterford on loan it's a joke .

Anyway gutted to see him go thought he could have been one to shine this season

[Bunny Kelly]

If he ends up going to Waterford on loan it's a joke .

Anyway gutted to see him go thought he could have been one to shine this season


I think there is real potential in Lonergan going off his spell at UCD but Cian Kavanagh I don't see, he was a sub at Waterford & a sub at Derry, he has never shown anything.

Feels risky from Pats but I suppose 60k to spend elsewhere for the trade off

[sbgawa]

If Fleetwood are getting Lonergan on the back of a 60k release clause and loaning him back to Waterford then any irish club with release clauses better start putting in "any English club except Fleetwood"

[Shinkicker]

It took four games but there's finally some trialists in the Bohs team for the friendly against Celtic B today. A goalkeeper and defender by the looks of it.
Anyone know who the trialists are?

[Jack B]

Disappointed with Lonergan going as despite him underwhelming last season I still have high hopes for him, and if nothing else he'd be a handy back-up option to have. A lot of the talk around him even from a few years ago was that he's always been set on a move to the UK though so it's not surprising that clause exists nor that he's willing to take the risk of presumably being shipped straight back over to Waterford.

[2 Year Contract]

Senan Mullen of Dundalk is apparently set to sign for Torino's Primavera (u19) side

[oriel]

Senan Mullen of Dundalk is apparently set to sign for Torino's Primavera (u19) side

Seemingly Dundalk will be entitled to a development fee per one local journo (not Gerry M), but I have no idea how much.

[total hoofball]

If Fleetwood are getting Lonergan on the back of a 60k release clause and loaning him back to Waterford then any irish club with release clauses better start putting in "any English club except Fleetwood"
I'm really surprised LOI clubs have not had these clauses proofed against UK clubs loaning sold players back to rival LOI clubs say within a timeframe of 2 years, why would you sell an important player to the UK and your LOI rivals benefit with getting the same player on a loan. I don't think a clause like that would deter UK clubs signing LOI players, I actually think it would do these players prospects better by being loaned to other UK clubs instead of being dumped back to the LOI on loan in no time

Rovers have also been beneficiaries of loans back with the Johnny Kenny and Darragh Burns loans so Pats clearly would want to proof their contracts as this is not the first time

[Shearer]

Alec Byrne rejoins Treaty

[sbgawa]

I'm really surprised LOI clubs have not had these clauses proofed against UK clubs loaning sold players back to rival LOI clubs say within a timeframe of 2 years, why would you sell an important player to the UK and your LOI rivals benefit with getting the same player on a loan. I don't think a clause like that would deter UK clubs signing LOI players, I actually think it would do these players prospects better by being loaned to other UK clubs instead of being dumped back to the LOI on loan in no time

Rovers have also been beneficiaries of loans back with the Johnny Kenny and Darragh Burns loans so Pats clearly would want to proof their contracts as this is not the first time

I don't think yhe rovers situations with kenny a d burns are comparable. Rovers are paying loan fees for players who's clubs didn't want them and rovers have no connection to those clubs. Fleetwood who own waterford are simply allowing waterford to get lonergan on the cheap (if he ends up at waterford)

[sulywaterfordfc]

If Fleetwood are getting Lonergan on the back of a 60k release clause and loaning him back to Waterford then any irish club with release clauses better start putting in "any English club except Fleetwood"

Pat’s apparently turned down a higher bid (75k) from Waterford than the 60k they may get from Fleetwood. Apparently his release clause only applied to clubs outside the league. Local Waterford journalist has reported if a loan was to happen it likely wouldn’t be until at least the summer window.

Didn’t a Drogs player move to their partner club in England and instantly signed back on loan?

[Bunny Kelly]

I don't think there is anything especially sinister Fleetwood signing him only to loan him to Waterford. He is one of the more promising young forwards in the league & they can get him relatively cheap but at the same time he needs more game time so for his long term development he is better being at a club where he gets games.

I always felt they Promise Omochere went over too soon & would have been better suited to a deal like this

[RealJohn91]

Lonergan to Waterford is a weird one considering Long really finds it hard to get a tune out of a striker who isn't a physical presence. That was the case at Bohs at least, every smaller striker he brought in never amounted to much.

[2 Year Contract]

I always felt they Promise Omochere went over too soon & would have been better suited to a deal like this

To be fair he made 34 appearances in his first season there, scoring 7. It wasn’t like he was left to rot on the bench

[2 Year Contract]

John Fallon from the Examiner tweeting that Naj Razi is joining Serie B club Como

[Another Bohemia]

To be fair he made 34 appearances in his first season there, scoring 7. It wasn’t like he was left to rot on the bench

Also made 17 appearances so far this season w/ 3 goals. Looks like he's being played as a winger again as opposed to a striker, hope for his sake he gets some more games as a striker as I believe that was his best position.

Just on whether he went too soon, he was raw but has all the physical traits to succeed in the lower leagues in England (tall, strong, quick w/ ball at his feet). He probably could have refined his craft here but there's no guarantee he gets that move if he stays and he had had injury issues when younger so probably thought it's a bet worth taking.

[sbgawa]

John Fallon from the Examiner tweeting that Naj Razi is joining Serie B club Como

if if we are getting a decent fee amd sell ons id be happy enough as i couldnt see him getting game time ahead of the midfield we have.
Towell, Poom, O Neill, Byrne, McEneff, Burns , Nugent, Burke plus a couple of others and we only play 3 in midfield. Plus 1 of the places is the holding midfield spot which is either Poom or O Neill so really only 2 places for the rest or 3 maybe if we have one up front. Still feel we have to many midfielders to keep happy but i suppose we have plenty of cover if there are injuries or we go deep in Europe

[2 Year Contract]

if if we are getting a decent fee amd sell ons id be happy enough as i couldnt see him getting game time ahead of the midfield we have.
Towell, Poom, O Neill, Byrne, McEneff, Burns , Nugent, Burke plus a couple of others and we only play 3 in midfield. Plus 1 of the places is the holding midfield spot which is either Poom or O Neill so really only 2 places for the rest or 3 maybe if we have one up front. Still feel we have to many midfielders to keep happy but i suppose we have plenty of cover if there are injuries or we go deep in Europe


€450k with add ons

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41322445.html

[pineapple stu]

It says €450,00 up front (presume that's €450k, but could be €45k) with potentially twice that much from add-ons.

[ger121]

Tommy Lonergan’s moving to Fleetwood for 60k according to Dan McDonnell.


If he ends up going to Waterford on loan it's a joke .

Anyway gutted to see him go thought he could have been one to shine this season

Fleetwood would, would Fleetwood!

[ger121]

It says €450,00 up front (presume that's €450k, but could be €45k) with potentially twice that much from add-ons.

Nice bit of business. Mandriou aside, they tend to do well when it comes to transfer fees.

[placid casual]

I really think the experience of playing in European games gives teams looking for young LOI players both a look at their potential in a testing environment and also increases the market value-Naz held himself well in the brief euro campaign for Rovers last year. Hopefully he can (a) fulfill his potential and (b) make some more money for Rovers.

[joey B]

It says €450,00 up front (presume that's €450k, but could be €45k) with potentially twice that much from add-ons.

Fallon confirmed it’s 450k ,decent fee ….

[Stuttgart88]

Good fee but I'm disappointed nonetheless, just as a fan. He's an exciting prospect and I was looking forward to seeing him blossom. A lot of very good young players are leaving us early (Bazunu, Zefi, Ferizaj, Emakhu, Razi...). Just purely from an intangible perspoective, seeing your academy kids develop into regular first team players is great for the fans and their connection to their club. I guess there's still Noonan, Nugent, Tetteh etc but I'm not sure these guys' ceilings are as high.

[LTFC]

Has to be positive all round. Say Rovers had 24 or so in an u19 squad, and assuming they are amongst the best in the country at that age, then whats a good number to take the next step, ie get a pro contract, at a level higher than LOI premier, or Loi premier or lower than loi premier, say first division? I dont know the answer, but would imagine if 25% take the next step would be a great achievement for an academy.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Good fee but I'm disappointed nonetheless, just as a fan. He's an exciting prospect and I was looking forward to seeing him blossom. A lot of very good young players are leaving us early (Bazunu, Zefi, Ferizaj, Emakhu, Razi...). Just purely from an intangible perspoective, seeing your academy kids develop into regular first team players is great for the fans and their connection to their club. I guess there's still Noonan, Nugent, Tetteh etc but I'm not sure these guys' ceilings are as high.

Know what you mean , as a Pats fan it was great to be able to watch Sam Curtis play regularly for the first team for a couple of seasons

[WeAreRovers]

Good fee but I'm disappointed nonetheless, just as a fan. He's an exciting prospect and I was looking forward to seeing him blossom. A lot of very good young players are leaving us early (Bazunu, Zefi, Ferizaj, Emakhu, Razi...). Just purely from an intangible perspoective, seeing your academy kids develop into regular first team players is great for the fans and their connection to their club. I guess there's still Noonan, Nugent, Tetteh etc but I'm not sure these guys' ceilings are as high.

I get this and agree that eventually we need to be able to hang on these young players but it's a very hard circle to square - give the kids game time and achieve sustained success at the same time. Not impossible - and it should be the aim - but very tough to do.

Pats have done and continue to do a great job bringing kids through but they haven't had the same level of success as Rovers and have done it out of necessity. That's not a criticism in the slightest BTW.

At the end of the day Rovers are getting €450k for a 17-year-old with twice that figure in possible add-ons. No doubt that Naj is a massive talent but he would have struggled for game time this season. A good bit of business for all parties... hopefully!

[sbgawa]

Mirror quoting 500k as up front fee. Either way it's a decent fee and hopefully is more typical these days of all clubs getting decent fees for young talent

[joey B]

Eric Yoro who joined Bolton from UCD a couple of years ago signed for Cliftonville on loan….

[ontheotherhand]

Good fee but I'm disappointed nonetheless, just as a fan. He's an exciting prospect and I was looking forward to seeing him blossom. A lot of very good young players are leaving us early (Bazunu, Zefi, Ferizaj, Emakhu, Razi...). Just purely from an intangible perspoective, seeing your academy kids develop into regular first team players is great for the fans and their connection to their club. I guess there's still Noonan, Nugent, Tetteh etc but I'm not sure these guys' ceilings are as high.

Bittersweet isn't it? It's the high ceilings bringing the attention but we won't get to watch the progress now. Still good to be nurturing the talent this far I suppose. We need a few slow burners to come through as it would be nice for some homegrown talent to reach their potential here.

Good fee for a 17 year old, especially with add ons. Hopefully there's a sell on as Como will attract a bigger future transfer fee than we can for now. They are spending a lot lately.

Regularly getting money is progress but now we need a few of these lads (Bazunu is a good start tbf) going on and fulfilling their promise. Then the bigger money will start showing up.

Bohs getting a season (or two?) out of McManus and then 500k is another good one. Positive signs.

[pineapple stu]

It'd be interesting to see after a while if these sort of moves are actually worth it.

Yoro was an awful player and was never going to make it at Bolton. He could have had two years' senior experience at this stage - but against that has had two years in what's presumably a top full-time academy. Which is better? (And then take the case of Naj Razi, who is giving up presumably a full-time contract at Rovers to move to Italy - is that worth it?)

[ontheotherhand]

It'd be interesting to see after a while if these sort of moves are actually worth it.

Yoro was an awful player and was never going to make it at Bolton. He could have had two years' senior experience at this stage - but against that has had two years in what's presumably a top full-time academy. Which is better? (And then take the case of Naj Razi, who is giving up presumably a full-time contract at Rovers to move to Italy - is that worth it?)

He'd be moving to Italy on a full-time contract as well I'd assume.....

[joey B]

Dundalk signed Ciaran McGuckin from Rotherham United on loan until the summer , Northern Ireland U21 International …

[pineapple stu]

He'd be moving to Italy on a full-time contract as well I'd assume.....
For sure - so that's full-time to full-time. I just want to remove the benefit for Yoro of going from part-time to full-time; that's just because he left UCD and that's not really the point of my supposing.

[JC_GUFC]

Dundalk signed Ciaran McGuckin from Rotherham United on loan until the summer , Northern Ireland U21 International …

Very little senior football behind him. Dundalk have a handful of seasoned pros but then a lot of inexperienced lads who could be anything.

That second game of the season at home to Galway United is going to be very interesting for both sides and could determine the direction of the season for either team. At least Stephen O'Donnell will know what to expect this season - it was like he had done absolutely no prep ahead of the cup meeting last season.

[ontheotherhand]

For sure - so that's full-time to full-time. I just want to remove the benefit for Yoro of going from part-time to full-time; that's just because he left UCD and that's not really the point of my supposing.

Would Yoro have even started for UCD? Fairly sure they only played him so scouts tracking his minutes played thought he was doing OK.....