2025 Arrivals and Departures

[sessylU]

Holt is a strange one. Plays well, I think, and had to go through a wee bit of aggro to force the move to Derry in the first place.

McMullan, too, seems odd. Well-liked, gets the games.

[Martinho II]

Would be a good move for Hoban to Coleraine considering RH is there. Cant remember the name of the player but yet another ex Derry City player joined him last week.

[Another Bohemia]

He's been good enough, when he gets on. I'd say that's the issue, he's just not getting the game time.

Rumours of lots more movement come next month. Diallo, McMullen, Ferguson, Holt and Hoabn all going, apparently. Seems like a lot, so we'll see if it actually pans out. Hoban is off to Coleraine, it seems.

That is some amount of movement alright. I'd say there's a couple there that will cost a decent amount to move on as well. I guess Lynch's initial assessment of the league/squad was a bit wrong then and he's trying to start again from scratch.

Reynolds did a bit of a clear out when he came to Bohs initially and we're really only starting to see the fruits of it now(Squad is still bloated in some areas and bare in others if I'm being honest). He has said previously that the signings that came in took a bit of time to get up to full fitness because they mostly came in from outside the league. If that's the route Derry go this summer it could be a long season for you.

[dcfc_legend9]

Holt is a strange one. Plays well, I think, and had to go through a wee bit of aggro to force the move to Derry in the first place.

McMullan, too, seems odd. Well-liked, gets the games.

Dont quite get this Holt thing at all. I have watched him and he genuinely isnt our best centre half in my eyes. Hayden Cann has impressed me this year and is probably on a fraction of the wage Holt is commanding.

By all accounts I dont tthink Holt or his mrs have settled here at all are looking for an out.

[outspoken]

Holt has been pony

[2 Year Contract]

Saw this on Twitter and thought I was losing my marbles. Chelsea are reportedly close to 'beating' Liverpool and Newcastle to the signing of Kian Best that was on loan at Bohs for the first half of this season and managed to get the sum total of 1 appearance for them before being released by Preston (without being told, he actually saw it himself on their Instagram!) and not offered a permanent deal by Bohs. About as strange a piece of transfer news as it gets

https://chelsea.news/2025/06/chelsea-kian-best-transfer/amp/

[Another Bohemia]

Saw this on Twitter and thought I was losing my marbles. Chelsea are reportedly close to 'beating' Liverpool and Newcastle to the signing of Kian Best that was on loan at Bohs for the first half of this season and managed to get the sum total of 1 appearance for them before being released by Preston (without being told, he actually saw it himself on their Instagram!) and not offered a permanent deal by Bohs. About as strange a piece of transfer news as it gets

https://chelsea.news/2025/06/chelsea-kian-best-transfer/amp/

It's especially weird because from what I've heard when he arrived at Bohs he wasn't match fit, he arrived in the middle of the championship season, and he never improved on that apparently. It must have been especially bad because while he wasn't good against Derry in his loan appearance he also wasn't awful but even as the only actual left back in the squad he only managed to get 1 appearance. Seems he's a young lad who doesn't take his trade seriously yet, maybe being released was a wake up call for him.

[total hoofball]

Who knows Kian Best could turn out to have a great Premier League career following an underwhelming LOI loan spell just like Brad Jones

[Martinho II]

Who knows Kian Best could turn out to have a great Premier League career following an underwhelming LOI loan spell just like Brad Jones

Where was Brad Jones again in LOI and when did he play? Is that GK that used to play for Liverpool?

[MoydowMonty]

Where was Brad Jones again in LOI and when did he play? Is that GK that used to play for Liverpool?

That caught me off guard too, Shelbourne apparently in early 2000s as a stopgap

[Shearer]

Where was Brad Jones again in LOI and when did he play? Is that GK that used to play for Liverpool?
Google is your friend, Marty.

[Martinho II]

Google is your friend, Marty.

I am boosting my post count here!

[placid casual]

Strong rumours of Gary O'Neill leaving Rovers, with Cork city a possible destination for him.... Dunno how I feel about that tbh

[Calcio Jack]

Strong rumours of Gary O'Neill leaving Rovers, with Cork city a possible destination for him.... Dunno how I feel about that tbh

No real surprise as his lack of game time must be frustrating him but unfortunately for him he’s been completely eclipsed by Healy - still a top player and I’d prefer if we could hold onto him for at least the rest of the season….. if not he goes with a big thank you as he’s been brilliant for us ….. I’ll never forget the calmness with which he slotted home the winning penalty in the 2019 cup final

[Buckett]

Is he from Kerry? He would be a huge signing for them

[culloty82]

Tralee born and bred - definitely seems to have been frozen out at Tallaght this season, but could still do a sterling job for any team, TBH.

[Nesta99]

Sell the Dudalk rebuild to him, if a Kerry or Cork could afford the cost then why not! I doubt the will be stuck for PD clubs.

[placid casual]

A really, really good professional that could realistically slot back in to Rovers if injuries mounted up ,so I'd be loath to let him go.
As Calcio said,if he were to depart he'd go with the love and gratitude of every Rovers fan I know.
And could do a very tidy job for literally every other club in the country - he'd provide some backbone to pats, just as an example.

[outspoken]

Strong rumours of Gary O'Neill leaving Rovers, with Cork city a possible destination for him.... Dunno how I feel about that tbh

Incredibly over rated player for years

[joey B]

Patrick McClean joined Sligo Rovers

[WeAreRovers]

Incredibly over rated player for years

The single most under-rated player in the League for years. Backbone of the 4-in-row team who was integral to everything Rovers achieved.

As a 6 he was never going to get the plaudits of others in the team but he was consistently the best 6 in the country.

Healy a different player and a serious upgrade on GON as he is a playmaker too but to call GON over-rated is baffling.

[Nesta99]

I'd have had him as a back up to Chrish Sheilds level of player, so quite capable for any side and what is missing in many.

[placid casual]

Incredibly over rated player for years
You haven't a clue pal.
That's about as diplomatic as I can be on this forum

[Jack B]

I'd have O'Neill at Pats in a heartbeat.

[Calcio Jack]

Word/rumour is that Duff ‘walked out’ from a Shels training session earlier today …. Anyone hear anything ?

[joey B]

Duff is gone according to John Fallon….

[culloty82]

Story now on the Examiner website:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41655938.html

[patsdad]

This is carrying attention-seeking to a ridiculous level. He’ll be back by tomorrow and they’ll be spinning it as a master stroke to wake up the underachieving players.

[Martinho II]

Yeah I got an alert from RTE on this about DD. Cant make him out these days. When things dont go his way he takes out on fellow players or mgrs. Look at way he argued with SB for instance his mentor. That row was so juvenile.

[placid casual]

Plenty on here said he'd walk out 6 months into the job, myself included.
He lasted longer and won shels the league and deserves great praise for that. That's about all that needs to be said about the attention seeking little man.
linfield could well do a job on them when they meet -who's gonna take the job I wonder.

[Another Bohemia]

I guess in the end he was in his own head

[sbgawa]

Joey has to be given a shot at it you'dthink. Hard to get someone in before Europe younwould think. Less risky to give joey his head. That's assuming they don't persuade him to come back

[brendy_éire]

Joey has to be given a shot at it you'dthink. Hard to get someone in before Europe younwould think. Less risky to give joey his head. That's assuming they don't persuade him to come back

That's a sensible way forward, yes.

Not sure what about Friday night specifically prompted this decision. Shels weren't great, but hardly appalling. That post match interview, up on the Shels YouTube page, gave the impression he was ready to give up.

Second manager this season that's resigned after losing at home to Derry. Maybe we can do a job on Pat's tomorrow and rack up another one.

[Buckett]

Second manager this season that's resigned after losing at home to Derry. Maybe we can do a job on Pat's tomorrow and rack up another one.

Kenny is on the verge of cracking up. I thought he was going to cry in his post-match interview the other night

[Onapointoforder]

Word/rumour is that Duff ‘walked out’ from a Shels training session earlier today …. Anyone hear anything ? Confirmed by club…

[Nesta99]

There's more in this story than him just giving in imo. Even if its just a bunch of players that have said no to his high demands. Hyperactive burnout? O'Brien is more than ready to step in at this stage now as a number 1. He has the football smarts to coach and seems to have the temperment - I think he was the key man for Rovers as a senior player that kept some hotheads in check and that bodes well for manaement. Where next for Duff wll be interesting. He has the league medals for Longford!

[2 Year Contract]

As we a lot of people expected when he was appointed, he’s walked at the first spell of adversity he had to face. We were all wrong that it’d be a few months for him to face that adversity but we’ve been proven correct that he’s bounced at a combination of underperformance and losing the head at his players professionalism vs his own high standards

[2 Year Contract]

There's more in this story than him just giving in imo. Even if its just a bunch of players that have said no to his high demands. Hyperactive burnout? O'Brien is more than ready to step in at this stage now as a number 1. He has the football smarts to coach and seems to have the temperment - I think he was the key man for Rovers as a senior player that kept some hotheads in check and that bodes well for manaement. Where next for Duff wll be interesting. He has the league medals for Longford!

You’ve got to be joking! Crucially he’s from Dublin which makes him ineligible to be certain people’s choice as Longford manager ;)

[Onapointoforder]

You’ve got to be joking! Crucially he’s from Dublin which makes him ineligible to be certain people’s choice as Longford manager ;)
Who are runners and riders to replace Duff??

[Another Bohemia]

Kenny is on the verge of cracking up. I thought he was going to cry in his post-match interview the other night

In fairness he always looks like that. You'd swear he smoked a massive spliff before any press conference with how red his eyes do be.

[De Town]

In fairness, this is a pretty bad look for Duff as a person - walking away at the first sign of trouble. The chap genuinely seems to have a screw loose to me, even when things were going well for him and Shels, he's a head case imo. His approach to motivation etc has a shelf life and it seems to have finally been reached now.

Kevin Doherty might get a chance to manage in Europe yet this season...

[brendy_éire]

In fairness, this is a pretty bad look for Duff as a person - walking away at the first sign of trouble.

Can't think of an argument against that conclusion.

[brendy_éire]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/derry-city-move-too-good-35433078

Adam Frizzell signing for Derry from Airdrie. 27 year old attacking midfielder for a side that finished second bottom in the Scottish second tier.
Not exactly inspiring, but we'll see.

[total hoofball]

I could write so many bulletpoints on this unexpected Shels/Duff rollercoaster since November 2021 of mostly positives but it does sound like I had feared at some point and as Dan McDonnell has written on his article tonight that Duff just said f-ck it and that's that.

Incredible memories but I can't believe it's over so soon after that famous night in Derry only 7 months ago and only just over 2 weeks away before this exciting two-leg Champions League tie against Linfield with so much on the line both on and off the field

It's a huge juncture for Shelbourne, no individual can ever become bigger than a football club Duff has certainly tested that theory with the LOI trophy in his hands in three seasons for a newly promoted team with the volume of headlines in the media and positive/negative attention received on social media - big games ahead before Linfield all potentially winnable, I'm encouraged Joey O'Brien will be taking charge for Waterford and Galway on an interim basis, if he wants the job even until the end of the season he is the preferential candidate for continuity with his own credentials but also for his own outstanding contribution along with Duff since November 2021

[brendy_éire]

.... I'm encouraged Joey O'Brien will be taking charge for Waterford and Galway on an interim basis, if he wants the job even until the end of the season he is the preferential candidate for continuity with his own credentials but also for his own outstanding contribution along with Duff since November 2021

Just read that Joey O'Brien doesn't have his pro badge, so it can't be him.

[Acornvilla]

Just read that Joey O'Brien doesn't have his pro badge, so it can't be him.
The ol' pro assistant with the badges incoming :D

I will miss Duffer in the league, he brought a lot of good with the chaos. It will leave a media and marketing vacuum for the league as a whole, and I would not underestimate it's importance.

I wouldn't be surprised if he never manages again and returns to coaching underage.

[Jack B]

Seems like O'Brien can do it without the badges for a couple of months, has applied anyway and in the meantime their analyst has them so can probably do the classic LOI box-ticking job if necessary.

[sbgawa]

Once he gets on the next course he will be fine and the FAI generally facilitate that

[joey B]

Duff linked with Brentford’s coaching setup ,everything might make more sense if he rocks up there!

[De Town]

Not on a wind up here, would be interested to hear Shels fans views. But I am seeing some Shels fans online claiming the players have let Duff down - particular ire being directed towards lads who joined this season.

Why is Duff getting a pass for signing below par players? It's surely not the players fault if they're not up to the level of challenging at the top end of the league. Surely Duff has to get some of the flak considering they're all his signings?