AFTER much doubt over its future, Kildare County’s U-21 team will to the field in the forthcoming Eircom League season, after the FAI relaxed its rles on the signing of players from other clubs in the close season.
Many of the players that turned out for the U-21s last season are unavailable for the new term, including Brian Byrne, who has departed to America to take up a soccer scholarship, and Ken Darker, who has retired. With several others overage, manager, Eddie Mohan and his staff are busy recruiting and re-signing players.
According to Kildare County General Manager, Pat McNally, the squad has been training for about a week.
“It’s up in the air whether some of the players will be signed but we have lost a few so there will definitely be some new faces for the season.”
The Thoroughbreds were originally not allowed to enter a team for the season, due the restrictions relating to the signing of players from Junior clubs when the transfer window closed, and because many of the U-21s played for their home-town clubs in the summer, they became ineligible.
The FAI’s stance on this issue angered County officials but the Association has since relaxed the rules and the U-21s will now take their place in the South Leinster Division of the Eircom League for the season.
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