2025 Arrivals and Departures

[Another Bohemia]

Christie Pattinson gone from Waterford to Glentoran. Very surprised he wasn't picked up by a LOI club.

Had heard Bohs were in for him (and about half a dozen others so how much of that is true remains to be seen) but it seems there's a bit of a gold rush up north at the moment with a few teams having relatively wealthy backers. Others may be spending to try to keep up! Granted you could say similar about our league

[joey B]

Noe Baba joined Athlone,has been decent for us….

[Shinkicker]

Alex Grieve has left Bohs, I wonder will they announce a new signing????

[oriel]

Not so sure about that assessment.

Hery is well-past his best at this stage. He can barely run. The amount of clubs that he's had over the last few seasons tells a tale.

He hasn't performed at a high level for at least 3 or 4 years.

Would agree with this, I saw the name which triggered a note, then I thought what has he done last 4-5 years, really not that much.

[outspoken]

Tbf to him he's had genuine off field issues that I wont go into but Longford gave him a chance to get back to something approaching his best and while he had constant glimpses of that he just simply isn't in the physical condition a LOI footballer needs to be at even at the bottom of the division

[thebronze14]

Noe Baba joined Athlone,has been decent for us….
Starting to get very worried. Half our starting lineup gone. One or two of the lads resigned not good enough and our only new outfield signing done for drink driving. Plenty of time to put it right but not looking overly promising so far

[2 Year Contract]

Darragh Power rumoured to have signed for Cheltenham Town. Will be a tough one for Waterford to adequately replace

[Another Bohemia]

Darragh Power rumoured to have signed for Cheltenham Town. Will be a tough one for Waterford to adequately replace

Fullback is one of those positions that seems increasingly difficult to fill with a decent starter never mind depth! Bohs are probably covered for RB with Smith as a starter and mountney as a rotation option but there isn't a single LB at the club and there was only 1 (Kirk) last year who wasn't up to it.

[patsdad]

Darragh Power rumoured to have signed for Cheltenham Town. Will be a tough one for Waterford to adequately replace


Was linked with Pats before it was announced that Sjoberg and McLaughlin had both signed back. No point signing another RB who’d expect to start. I suspect the CB coming in to replace Keeley will also be capable of covering RB if needed. The rumour about Hoare was persistent though I saw another report that Rovers were confident of holding on to him.

[EalingGreen]

Darragh Power rumoured to have signed for Cheltenham Town. Will be a tough one for Waterford to adequately replaceThis local journo always has rock solid inside info on Cheltenham, so you can take it as confirmed:
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cheltenham-town-agree-january-deal-9824485

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps have signed striker Gavin Hodgins from Shelbourne

[MU1889]

Harps have signed striker Gavin Hodgins from Shelbourne

He was poor on loan to Glenavon last season, though admittedly he was badly-utilised. Usually played as lone striker when he didn't have the height, physicality or link-up play to suit that role. That said, he seemed to be a decent finisher, so might do OK with a target man or good number 10 as a foil for him.

[Nesta99]

He was poor on loan to Glenavon last season, though admittedly he was badly-utilised. Usually played as lone striker when he didn't have the height, physicality or link-up play to suit that role. That said, he seemed to be a decent finisher, so might do OK with a target man or good number 10 as a foil for him.

How on earth dd Dundalk miss out on signing him? Sounds like he was the perfect fit!

[thebronze14]

He was poor on loan to Glenavon last season, though admittedly he was badly-utilised. Usually played as lone striker when he didn't have the height, physicality or link-up play to suit that role. That said, he seemed to be a decent finisher, so might do OK with a target man or good number 10 as a foil for him.

I know now I'm going to lose my mind after about 3 matches of lumping the ball up to him

[trevy]

Darragh Power confirmed as signed for Cheltenham. Not many local players left at Waterford now.

[total hoofball]

Aiden O'Brien has departed Shels for family reasons. You could see flashes of his ability however his fitness looked off the pace still would have liked to see him have a full pre-season he probably has a League 2 or National League club lined up with the transfer window re-opening

[joey B]

Kyle O'Connor and Adam Wixted both signed for Athlone after previously being with Longford ….

[Shearer]

Kyle O'Connor and Adam Wixted both signed for Athlone after previously being with Longford ….
Unrelated, but I would be concerned for both goalkeeper wise.

Harry Halwax was probably the worst goalkeeper in the division last year, although he's out of the league with a while so might be a bit sharper next season.

It's a while ago, but Matt Connor was terrible on loan to Bray in 2023.

[outspoken]

Unrelated, but I would be concerned for both goalkeeper wise.

Harry Halwax was probably the worst goalkeeper in the division last year, although he's out of the league with a while so might be a bit sharper next season.

It's a while ago, but Matt Connor was terrible on loan to Bray in 2023.

Matt Connor is one of the worst I've ever seen..

[joey B]

Enda Curran announces his retirement

[MoydowMonty]

Jordan Adeyamo swapping Longford Town for Iceland 2nd tier apparently https://fotbolti.net/news/02-01-2025/irskur-soknarmadur-i-aegi-stadfest

[Jack B]

Sean Hoare confirmed by Pats. Not a groundbreaking one but I'm pleased with it all the same.

[patsdad]

As widely expected, Sean Hoare’s return to St Pats is confirmed.
With two strong options across all 11 positions, I’d say that’s our incoming business done.

[culloty82]

Enda Curran announces his retirement

Must be injury-related - was still relatively effective when he was able to play?

[2 Year Contract]

As widely expected, Sean Hoare’s return to St Pats is confirmed.
With two strong options across all 11 positions, I’d say that’s our incoming business done.

Anang
Sjoberg Redmond Grivosti Breslin
Forrester Lennon Kavanagh
Elbouzedi Keena Mulraney

Rogers
McLaughlin Hoare Turner Kazeem
Palmer Baggley Leavy
Power Melia McClelland

Basing the starting 11 on the one that finished the season. Most positions are nailed down but Palmer and Melia certainly have strong cases to be in the first 11 and we’re in it until injury hit them both. Which leaves Bolger (who is likely to leave if he finds a suitable club) and the underage lads that are under contract like Noonan, McHale, O'Brien etc etc. Really good depth and dare I say it, that second Pats 11 would beat some of the first choice 11’s the club has had in the past decade

[Shearer]

Must be injury-related - was still relatively effective when he was able to play?
Might be injury related, he's not in great nick and I'm not sure how many clubs would cater for him too.

Wouldn't cut it at Galway or Sligo.
Athlone play on a plastic pitch.
Longford train in Dublin and I don't believe he drives.

Great player that had a great career but Treaty might have been better served if they had someone other than him in 2024, especially when you look at the number of goals Success scored when he was on-form.

[2 Year Contract]

Waterford have signed for Arsenal Academy winger Trae Coyle on a multi year deal. He’s been playing in the Swiss first and second tiers since 2021 with Lausanne Sport but hasn’t played since January of last year when he did his ACL

[patsdad]

Anang
Sjoberg Redmond Grivosti Breslin
Forrester Lennon Kavanagh
Elbouzedi Keena Mulraney

Rogers
McLaughlin Hoare Turner Kazeem
Palmer Baggley Leavy
Power Melia McClelland

Basing the starting 11 on the one that finished the season. Most positions are nailed down but Palmer and Melia certainly have strong cases to be in the first 11 and we’re in it until injury hit them both. Which leaves Bolger (who is likely to leave if he finds a suitable club) and the underage lads that are under contract like Noonan, McHale, O'Brien etc etc. Really good depth and dare I say it, that second Pats 11 would beat some of the first choice 11’s the club has had in the past decade

I think that post is spot on in every respect. Palmer/Kavanagh and Melia/Keena probably the debates.

[placid casual]

So I guess all that's left is to decide which route the league victory parade bus will take through inchicore...:)

[Dermobohs]

Mmmm seem to remember similar posts extolling the invincibility of pat fenlons rovers squad…..

[joey B]

That was harsh from Sligo Rovers media team having a build up to a keeper signing and it being Conor Walsh instead of Ed McGinty !

[oriel]

Sean Hoare confirmed by Pats. Not a ground breaking one but I'm pleased with it all the same.

Personally think he didn't hit the highs once Kenny left DFC, so no better man to get him back to his best, has to be a good signing. Not too many can boast scoring in the Aviva in short period twice, Cup Final as a winner, then a Group Stage goal v Arsenal, both in 2020.

[oriel]

As widely expected, Sean Hoare’s return to St Pats is confirmed.
With two strong options across all 11 positions, I’d say that’s our incoming business done.

That's SK's absolute favourite thing in football, he'll have 11 v 11 now in training, must be some wage bill at this stage, but as always a pleasant 'not to be worried about' concern for a fan. They have to be serious contenders now for the 2025 title.

What price I wonder on the Kenny household winning two titles next year, although I never like that term 'title' for the FD, its a trophy still. Pats for me though starting to maybe edge it over Rovers, will be very interesting to see who comes out strongest, and Shels too will be of the infamous line 'We haven't gone away you know' ....................

[Nesta99]

That's SK's absolute favourite thing in football, he'll have 11 v 11 now in training, must be some wage bill at this stage, but as always a pleasant 'not to be worried about' concern for a fan. They have to be serious contenders now for the 2025 title.

What price I wonder on the Kenny household winning two titles next year, although I never like that term 'title' for the FD, its a trophy still. Pats for me though starting to maybe edge it over Rovers, will be very interesting to see who comes out strongest, and Shels too will be of the infamous line 'We haven't gone away you know' ....................

Well its been called the Colin Scanlon Cup in some circles for a while, others the Lynch Cup after the captain sloshed behind the Lilywhite Lounge Bar filling it with well whatever number of taps he could get going in one go and held on to it as if it was his newborn baby, i shall take either version cup in 2025!

[outspoken]

Curran did the shoulder end of last season and I think he was just at the point where enough was enough injury wise, body wasn't able for it any more. Great lad and a quality striker

[Jack B]

Pats have only added three new players in Hoare, Baggley and Power to be fair, could well be wrong as none of us actually know the numbers and maybe certain re-signings have gotten big pay rises to make it the case, but given this I'm not sure we've made some kind of huge jump in budget from last year.

[Another Bohemia]

Pats have only added three new players in Hoare, Baggley and Power to be fair, could well be wrong as none of us actually know the numbers and maybe certain re-signings have gotten big pay rises to make it the case, but given this I'm not sure we've made some kind of huge jump in budget from last year.

I know you had Palmer last year but I would count him as a new player because it's a permanent move and he was only on loan last year. That probably bumps up what you were paying him significantly.

[sbgawa]

youd have to wonder is there much point in the rest of us showing up next year tbh. Could be the start of a Pats 5 in a row.

[Jack B]

I know you had Palmer last year but I would count him as a new player because it's a permanent move and he was only on loan last year. That probably bumps up what you were paying him significantly.

Maybe so, hard to know really. He was playing in leagues that likely pay better than ours previously so I suppose it'd be relative to how much of his wages were being covered last season on loan vs his deal now.

In any case I'd say the main difference in budget from this season and the beginning of last is what Kenny is on more than anything else. Can only imagine the proverbial kitchen sink was thrown at him.

[Knocklyonhoop]

Sean Hoare confirmed by Pats. Not a groundbreaking one but I'm pleased with it all the same.

disappointed to see him go. Was injured a lot last season but when he could play, he played well. Definitely a better option than Cleary…

[sbgawa]

disappointed to see him go. Was injured a lot last season but when he could play, he played well. Definitely a better option than Cleary…t

Id agree and he chipped in with more goals than the other CB's dissapointing to see him go.
I see he is calling Stephen Kenny "the best manager in the league" bit of a dig at Bradser

[trevy]

Waterford signed 6 foot 7 inch Dutch striker Marten Pouwels back in December. He's played for a few teams in Dutch 2nd tier. It gives another attacking option. Probably the tallest player in the league?

[total hoofball]

Shels thankfully told St. Mirren to f.off after sniffing around for Sean Boyd on the cheap with a laughable 5 figure offer


https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/shelbourne-turn-down-st-mirren-offer-for-sean-boyd-as-sean-hoare-returns-to-st-pats-from-shamrock-rovers/a1235429863.html

[Jack B]

Farrugia off to Barnsley according to David Sneyd.

[ger121]

Farrugia off to Barnsley according to David Sneyd.

Officially announced.

[Dexy]

I dunno what Rovers are at - they're losing good players, they've allowed all rivals to sign up best of the available LOI players so they're now really left with diving into the notoriously erratic UK and European pool. Serious bang of 2012 about this...time will tell if they've made another Ricket(ts)

[RealJohn91]

Thought with his ability to speak different languages and his level of performance in Europe he would've got a better move maybe to the continent.

[joey B]

Pats midfielder Anto Dodd joined us on loan for the season.

[placid casual]

I dunno what Rovers are at - they're losing good players, they've allowed all rivals to sign up best of the available LOI players so they're now really left with diving into the notoriously erratic UK and European pool. Serious bang of 2012 about this...time will tell if they've made another Ricket(ts)
Wtf are you on about....?
Farrugia was out of contract and made it clear at the start of last season that he was going to try a move overseas once his contract finished.
Kenny was on loan for past 2 seasons and always maintained he wanted to try break into the Celtic first team
Hoare is a bit of a loss I'll grant you,as mentioned here ,for my money he's better than Cleary.
And that's it......
None were a surprise.

[placid casual]

Farrugia off to Barnsley according to David Sneyd.
I had hoped,for his sake, he'd try the continent.
Instead he's going into the industrial,no nonsense factory floor of pro football in lower league england. I think he'll get broken up there but sincerely hope I'm wrong.