Town 2026

[De Town]

Oisin Hand the first confirmed departure. Gone over the road to Athlone.

And so it begins...

[MoydowMonty]

Mind you they took a few of our lads last season and they weren't much loss. This one does hirt more though

[Martinho II]

Thats a pity with OH. see on town FB group that AD is linked with a move to Scumlone. Dont understand the logic of it.

[MoydowMonty]

Thats a pity with OH. see on town FB group that AD is linked with a move to Scumlone. Dont understand the logic of it.

Ah jesus, that one would properly sting bad. I guess they have more money than I realised, I know they have no owners or stakeholders but after the season they just had I wasn't expecting to see them sign and be linked to the names mentioned.

I'd be worried we end up having a squad of newbies like we had for the season just gone, and it takes most of the season for them to get comfortable, and by then it would be too late again

[De Town]

I'd be worried we end up having a squad of newbies like we had for the season just gone

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'd guess that this is a distinct possibility.

[outspoken]

A lot of people already throwing out the "lack of ambition" and "splash the cash" lines. Look at the state of Dundalk, look at Treaty's books, we simply can't compete without placing the club in jeporady. One thing I would like to know is why we haven't had a shirt sponsors last two seasons and if we are making any attempts to get outside investment (not that we want total headers coming on board either). But with the amount of teams we now have, this is the sad reality. Doran not going to Athlone fwiu btw.

[drelihan]

Is Doran linked to another club? He must be getting good offers ( I see he recently signed with a management company that manages big name players).

I agree with the Haugheyesque "Living within our means". We all know Dundalk were mad to spend like crazy instead of getting their finances in order. But I was very surprised at the Treaty 800k loss - especially after all the protests about them not spending enough!

It would be nice to see some small incremental improvements on and off the pitch. Hopefully the academy funding comes in and there are 1 or 2 full time positions. The media, gym, wall(!) etc have been great. Something like the legends match would be great.

[LTFC]

Am around long enough to say we have done the splash the cash and there is no future in that for a club like ours. I think the club is showing steady growth, and when you are adding new teams and coaching teams around that each year then no surprise there isnt bigger budgets for 1st team.

[MoydowMonty]

I'm back checking FAI Connect way more than I should be, but I see Murtagh, Ugbesia and Swazzy are listed under college teams there. I hope that's just them getting game time for the winter or something and that they'll be back to business next year. Least that's what I'm telling myself, would be 3 big losses otherwise

[drelihan]

I noticed that as well. It's weird, when you search them individually they still show up as LTFC.

Oisin Hand is still showing as LTFC so probably not the most reliable source!!!

[De Town]

I see Harry Halwax had something online about moving on. Hardly surprising given the way he was dropped at the back-end of last season.

Seems that Doran, Ugbesia, Yoro, Murtagh and a few others were at the POTY awards night the other night. Possibly unwise to read too much into that but would make me hopeful that they're staying on.

[drelihan]

If we can keep that core we have a chance at being competitive. It's amazing how many First Division teams seem to be completely rebuilding their squads.

[MoydowMonty]

Who were the winners at the awards anyway? Haven't seen the club announce anything of it. Surely Doran was POTY?

[Martinho II]

Who were the winners at the awards anyway? Haven't seen the club announce anything of it. Surely Doran was POTY?

There was photos from the awards night in the local press. But nothing else mentioned not even on club website.

[outspoken]

There was photos from the awards night in the local press. But nothing else mentioned not even on club website.

Photos were literally posted on the club socials. Aaron Doran POTY and PPOTY, Eric Yoro GOTS.

[drelihan]

Nice to see Eric win. Seems like a great young lad.
I had assumed Aaron won goal and player 😄

[De Town]

Photos were literally posted on the club socials. Aaron Doran POTY and PPOTY, Eric Yoro GOTS.

Murtagh absolutely robbed of GOTS.

[MoydowMonty]

Murtagh absolutely robbed of GOTS.

Agreed.


Apparently the season tickets should go on sale next couple weeks and the new gear in December. I don't know if that includes a new jersey or if they're keeping the same one for next season

[outspoken]

Murtagh absolutely robbed of GOTS.

Even Wayne joked on stage that Eric must have done some serious canvassing to win it

[drelihan]

I see Bray are keeping the same jersey this year. Probably not the worst idea if we did the same as there is still stock on the Elverys website. I thought this year's jersey was very nice too.

[Martinho II]

I see Bray are keeping the same jersey this year. Probably not the worst idea if we did the same as there is still stock on the Elverys website. I thought this year's jersey was very nice too.

agreed thought it was much better jersey than centenary effort.

[outspoken]

From what I understand, there will be a new jersey launched in the coming week or so. I never buy jerseys anymore, only bought the centenary one to have for keeps sake, so not really pushed what it looks like as long as it's not a total abomination. I'm much more interested in nice training and leisure wear, not sure if there will be any of that released or not..

[drelihan]

My days of being able to pull off a jersey are well behind me! But my young lads love them.

Any player news? I'm hopeful we can retain our core squad but the lack of news at this time of year is always causes some nerves.

[culloty82]

Baffled as to why we've bought Halwax off you today, when Connor should be the first choice, and young Darragh Foley did OK in his First Division games, but Healy must believe in packing the squad with keepers?

[MoydowMonty]

He was very vulnerable to clangers in his first few months but became solid by the end before he was dropped. You could get either version of him at Kerry tbh.

I'm concerned about ourselves now when I see most the other clubs making a lot of signings. I'd say our lads are holding to see if they get better offers. Can't blame them. I just hope we're not starting with mostly newbies again who need most of the season to gel together, like what happened this season

[drelihan]

We always get nervous this time of year but this year seems particularly quiet 😔

[outspoken]

Baffled as to why we've bought Halwax off you today, when Connor should be the first choice, and young Darragh Foley did OK in his First Division games, but Healy must believe in packing the squad with keepers?

He was the most improved keeper in the division come the summer, kept us in so many games. If he gets good coaching he should be a solid addition.

[drelihan]

Looks like Eric Yoro is going to Treaty....it's updated in FAI connect

[MoydowMonty]

Won't be missed. Though it would be typical if he suddenly started playing class for them

[drelihan]

I did enjoy his runs even they were a bit risky.

I would have thought he was a banker to return. I would be slightly concerned about an exodus and rebuild....

[MoydowMonty]

Those mazy runs worked once in his life and that was against Treaty when we were 4-0 down. Every other time he put the head down and lost the ball. I won't miss that bit of stress

[De Town]

I saw someone mention online that Osaze Irhue has re-signed for next season.

To be honest, I've been slow to criticize the club online for their lack of online squad updates in the past. But the silence since seasons end about almost everything simply isn't good enough. We're less than 2 weeks out from Christmas and season tickets have only just been advertised for the first time a week ago. Nothing about players who are coming or going. Nothing about the supposed new jersey that's coming out.

I understand there's very few people running the show, and almost everything the club does on the social media side of things is done by volunteers, so it's not easy. But we played our last game of the season 2 months ago and it's been pretty much silence since.

[drelihan]

I saw that post. Unless they have inside info then it looks like they are just going by FAI connect!!!

[Martinho II]

Tbh Im not surprised by the silence from the club. The only reaction to the towns FB page is that a certain town fan who shall remain nameless was giving out stink about the lack of town fans at dinner dance. He rightly got stick for what he posted. The price to pay for a dinner dance is a disgrace. Also with the price of living crisis ppl have bills to pay. Also fans are disillusioned with the way volunteers have being treated in the past. I was speaking to ex town player Stephen Brennan on the train back from Mullingar to Longford yesterday and the way his parents were treated was awful. They refuse to go to town matches now. They were long attending volunteers of the club. So club has a lot of making up to do!

[MoydowMonty]

I remember they announced 3 lads Christmas day last year, then 1 or 2 after. Then silence till the week before the season, even tho it was no secret because FAI Connect told the whole story long before then. That can't be the case again this time. There doesn't need to be big sweeping statements, just a quick post saying who has arrived is plenty

[outspoken]

It's incredibly frustrating that every single year Christmas comes around and there appears to be a last minute scramble to get jerseys etc out - Then again, I've absolutely no idea what is involved in getting all that together, id imagine we sell very few jerseys compared to other clubs so we are probably very low down the list of priorities for Macron or whoever. Still, even stuff like mugs, scarfs, hats etc should be out there at this time of year. Again, is there an issue in maybe having to buy this kind of stuff in bulk and a fear we won't sell enough to cover costs? I've no idea.

On the social media stuff, as someone who has helped the club in the past, I'd love nothing more than to see the club being innovative and leading the way in terms of fresh and exciting content and in fairness to Hendo and Wayne they've always made it clear the social media team are welcome to come up to training and create content anytime but the small team of lads we have all have busy jobs, families and live miles away from where we train and in the current financial climate it's difficult to justify driving up and down to Dublin of a Tuesday evening for example.

On the player announcements, we can't post news that we don't have. I don't know anything more than anyone here knows about who is staying or going. No idea if the plan is to do a bulk Christmas announcement or if we simply haven't signed anyone.

Anyway, another Christmas stressing about next season, enjoy it all.

[Martinho II]

yeah i seen a piece online on harps financial year end accounts. For years now I never ever see our club publicising the accounts at all even going back to posters here that werent even born! I just find it rather worryingly with the secrecy about everything now.

[outspoken]

I'm not a financial expert by any stretch but i'd imagine those accounts are accesible online somewhere for a fee

[Martinho II]

Seen on town group on Facebook that Dean O Shea has left us to go to Bray Wanderers. I am rather limited in my knowledge about him though?

[MoydowMonty]

Seen on town group on Facebook that Dean O Shea has left us to go to Bray Wanderers. I am rather limited in my knowledge about him though?

Our captain last year. He'll be a loss. I liked him a lot at LB. Had a hell of a throw in on him too.

[outspoken]

He definitely wasn't as good this season as last, I actually think he was better for us at CB. Long throw will be a loss, if we don't have an actual long throw replacement I hope we don't just stick a randomer on it, you can't half arse it if you want it to work

[drelihan]

It was kind of strange at the end of last season. It seemed to be a similar situation as Halwax in that it seemed like Wayne knew he was leaving.

[outspoken]

I think O'Shea was injured, Halwax was still around the squad whereas there was no sign of O'Shea so would suggest an injury but he could have just as easilly been exiled for all I know.

[outspoken]

Doran again Ole Ole. Happy Christmas lads

[MoydowMonty]

Ordering my Doran jersey right now build a fu**ing statue

[drelihan]

Did not expect that at all lads. Any word on Norris, Irhue,Manuel, Alex o Brien and Stefan?

Also what do yee make of this:

Jake Hough (Bohemians) and Aidan Russell Vargas (Dundalk) are believed to be targets of Longford!

[outspoken]

Never heard of either

[MoydowMonty]

Ugbesia and Egan back on board. We might have lost 3 or 4 starters at the beginning of the window but we've 3 lads signed who will be first choice. And I imagine Egan will start if he's not injured. Slowly coming together now

[drelihan]

By the way, did we lose anyone other than Oisin Hand, Dean o Shea and Harry?

[MoydowMonty]

By the way, did we lose anyone other than Oisin Hand, Dean o Shea and Harry?

Nothing yet. FAI Connect was my gospel for this stuff the last couple years but it hasn't been updating, maybe they've started cracking down on it and letting the clubs announce first, seeing as we knew the whole Town squad last February before the club announced most of them.

It does say Ibrahim is at a different club though, and I hope that to be accurate