FAI website delves into rumours...
" Paul Keegan’s latest move suggests it is never too late to make a new start
Date: Tuesday, 02 January 2007
Section: eircom League
The most cheerful story of the holiday period has to be the news that Motherwell may well give former St. Patrick’s Athletic striker, Paul Keegan, a debut in the Scottish Premier League today.
Keegan was one of three eircom League players signed by Motherwell at the end of the season in Ireland in December.
They signed 23 years old Danny Murphy from Cork City on a two year contract, Trevor Molloy, who is 30, and Paul Keegan, 33, from Cup finalists St. Patrick’s Athletic on 18 months contracts.
They have joined former Shelbourne player Richie Foran at Fir Park where today Motherwell play Rangers.
Last time out Motherwell drew 1-1 with the runaway leaders of the Premier Division, Celtic, and clearance for their three new Irish signings arrived in time to leave them eligible for selection.
The possibility of Keegan being given a start is good news. At 33 years of age the much-travelled centre-forward who played previously for Bohemians and Longford Town, amongst others, must have thought his best years were behind him.
Keegan intended to move to Scotland to open up a business and had ambitions of playing in the lower regions of the Scottish League. Now he could fine himself thrust into the very forefront of events as Rangers strive to finish second to Celtic and secure a place in Europe.
Elsewhere there are reports that Derry City and Cork City are both looking cross-channel in search of new players.
Derry City’s new manager, Pat Fenlon, released Stephen O’Flynn, Shaun Holmes and Clive Delaney, the giant centre-back who scored in their Cup final win, and they transferred goalkeeper David Forde to Cardiff City.
Fenlon is anxious to add some further names to his squad’s roster as Derry seek to build a squad capable of adding to the successes of recent seasons by winning the League Championship.
Cork City have lost Danny Murphy to Motherwell and there are suggestions that Neal Horgan is set to travel to America for further study while Billy Woods is contemplating retirement.
Their midfield star George O’Callaghan left the club after a disagreement mid-way through last season and has been training at Ipswich since while Cork have been paying his wages.
Ipswich have not made a firm bid for his transfer although manager Jim Magilton is keen to recruit him. The fact that he knows Cork will want a substantial fee is creating a problem.
Cork will also look for a substantial fee if their U21 international Roy O’Donovan is recruited during the current transfer window. A range of clubs including Sunderland and Wolves are said to be interested in the centre-forward who finished the season with a flood of goals for Cork.
O’Donovan had one attempt already at making it cross-channel with Coventry City and is supportive of Cork’s refusal not to allow him go on trial. He says if a club wants to sign him they have had plenty of opportunities of watching him play in the eircom League.
Meantime the latest rumours on the future of 19 years old Anthony Stokes suggest that he will not be extending his loan period with Falkirk.
Stokes is an Arsenal player and was allowed move to Falkirk at the start of the season on loan. Falkirk are obviously keen to keep the player until the end of season – he is leading goalscorer in Scotland and has scored three hat-tricks for them – but he is currently in London talking to Arsenal manager Arsense Wenger.
Aresenal have had enquiries about his future from several clubs, including Charlton Athletic, Sunderland and Wolves. "
Is it appropriate for a national footballing body to fuel and comment on speculation regarding players? Should a website being run by a national football association inform us of the "latest rumours on the the future of" any player? Does the whole "never too late to make a new start" sound as if the FAI is indicating you're better off away from Irish football? Maybe I am just paranoid, but the fact that rumours of Stoke's future appear in the eL section of the FAI website seems a tad stupid, really.
