Darragh Leahy Signed for Linfield, is he any good, is CB is best position, basically can you tell me anything about him?
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Darragh Leahy Signed for Linfield, is he any good, is CB is best position, basically can you tell me anything about him?
I never would thought it would be a defender as the first to break that six figure record. Shels are pretty much exchanging most or if not all of the transfer fee received for Lewis Temple but O'Brien and the Jamestown analytics gurus must be confident in his ability with potential increased resale value to the UK marketQuote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Was excellent for Bohs up late 10's, not sure he showed same form at Dundalk for 4 years from 2019 but he did win FAI Cup in 2020 with us. Decent left full, likes to get forward, personally I liked his style, also filled in as centre half during a covid ravaged period and did very well. I probably expected a little bit more, but that was a serious Dundalk side 2019 - 2021.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
I'd say he'll do a decent job for Linfield.
Didn't realise how young he still is, only 27. Feels like he's been around for ages now.
Not really what I meant by "mad" Nesta but I don't think it was transfer fees paid that buried various clubs. More the wage bills incurred. Even Dundalk at the height of their insanity weren't splashing huge sums to bring players in were they? The fact that 80k was the previous record and it took 20 years to break it with a fee of 115k sort of speaks to that. The highest fee paid in the Welsh league is 226k by comparison and the clubs we are considering our "peers" in the conference league spend way more. See Celje as an example. When you consider the transfer fees received by Irish clubs have been growing steadily, it was only a matter of time before a club spent north of 100k but that it took us 20 years to get here is.....a bit mad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
I expect the new record to be broken within the next few years, rather than the next 20.
George O'Callaghan could be moving close to Bohs. Sad to read. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/c...-41775788.html
Dundalk were indeed paying transfer fees and its wasnt as if there was return on invetment. i know its a combination of factor but imo when a club start to feel they have cah to pay out in transfers especially sozeable ones, it marks the start of almost a financial arrogance that this is sustainable. Drogs, Shels, Dundalk need Europe year on year to be paying 6 fiqure transfers and we know how that might pan out. Unless you have billionaire owners that could bankroll a few lean years......or fans have viable plans b, c and d:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
Sad to see, but I do enjoy the fact his solicitor is a Mr. Buttimer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry 'da' Wyse
But you weren't breaking the 80k record. You were spending mad money on wages, with double the wage bill of any other club in the league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
You also weren't receiving any fees. Rovers have made 7.5m in transfer fees. Shels just made a fair amount as well. So as that grows, of course the other side will too.
Not having a go at Dundalk here btw. Sounds like an I am TBF but things have changed. Big difference between banking on Europe and planning accordingly given the Conference League option.
100k for a player who isn't coming in on mad wages (and is actually going to play unlike the lads Dundalk brought in) makes a bit more sense, especially if you expect to receive a fee later on and you've just done well in Europe.
The strangest thing I've heard on the budget side is that James Clarke is now the leagues highest earner. Would love to know if that's true by the source was reliable enough. Crazy if so.
I have to agree with the above, this doesn't actually seem like some of the reckless spending of the past to me.
€100k is the equivalent of paying another players wages for the year, and they've probably took that into account and felt is was worth it to get a young promising player who has a reasonable chance of commanding more than that in a transfer fee in the future.
It was an area they badly needed to strengthen, and the player is highly regarded and I can only assume on a multi-year contract, without the wages being ridiculous either.
The Bohs squad has 22 players named including Hugh Martin. He's very young, so to include him in the squad he must be something special. Im a bit more confident now domestically, but don't know how the young lads will fair with the additional games in Europe. Europe could cost points domestically with injuries etc. I don't think we'll win the league but on the other hand I don't think we'll be relegated. Ahh another year as a Bohs supporter.
I would say Clarke is on very very good wages for the LOI but like most people I have heard several different weekly wages thrown about from £2000 - 4000 a week. So I would take it all with a pinch of saltQuote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
Confirmed nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah
Good signing. Although it be some sort of LOI record that Derry have now paid a fee for the second time for a lad that they’ve let go twice in his career. Also both times they bought him was from Sligo too :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah
Has there ever been a playerr let go twice and then transferred back twice, never mind by the same clubs and in LoI?
Don't know what the record is, but it feels like it definitely belongs in Italy somehow.
MOD EDIT: Posts moved to 2026 thread at request of MoydowMonty.
I didnt include Rovers due to their youth setup and having players on more than single year rolling contracts which to everyone else says 'I want to move but just havent had a better offer yet'. Exclude the mad chariman and Zahibo stuff with Dundalk. There was still a reliance on European qualification to join the financial dots even with 2 Europa League group qualifications. Prize money goes up and ECL group money is significant but in the context of the cost of running a club it is barely cover for a lean year. When a club breaks a domestic transfer record, even at 100k, I think its an indication of thinking we're loaded. But unless you replicate ECL qualification it fades quickly. Rovers are also different in that their stadium isnt a bottomless pit of a drain on income, at worst its a set and budgetable annual fee. Shels, like Dundalk are dealing with an antiquated ground and playing catchup in a major way. How much was spent on the (old) new stand getting it reopened. Selling it out wont recoup costs in a few seasons. The river floods and they have no home gates, that barrel roof is going to need work.Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
Its not scientific, but I do think its a possible trend. A club gets a wedge and start feeling they can pay 6 figure transfer fees (I dont recall Rovers making a whole load of costly transfer in?). Derry can now bank roll it but manipulated the books in the past, Dundalk (imo) got exactly what fans protested for and ousted owners that could banckroll big signings but Drogs, at face value Shels albeit in a multiclub tha has yet to be be tested, didnt Cobh pay a relatively small fee recently but still. There re others. It seems like some European windfall and there is period of complacency when I think that money should become a reserve and spent on income generating facilities - stick to the team recruitment formula that got you there, better terms = better players without a transfer fee anyway. The biggest cost is players agents knwoing there is money and up their demands, call their bluff, players already have their bonuses. If they are on a longer term contract seem out to the last year not go offering everyone new deals.
Mayb Shels will be the extremely prudent exception, joining Sligo Rovers. Bohs would probaly not splash out on the playing squad, bees on the other hand would be the clubs marquee purchases with a new mural to clebrate someone who walked past Dalymount once.
Always! We're very coy about players salaries in this country. You beat us to him though and we pay crazy money of course.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfc_legend9
I mean when you put it weekly thats probably a very good wage for the League of Ireland but its about £200K a year which not unheard of moneyQuote:
Originally Posted by dcfc_legend9
He is decent but I don't think he is commanding enough to be a top centre back which is where he mainly played for Waterford for past few seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
All of our starting back 4 from last season were released after our poor season last year.
I've heard good things about Hugh Martin he's been marked as a real prospect. A season in the rough and tumble of the premier division should tell us more
Martin scored twice in a 4-1 pre-season win against Longford a couple of days ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shinkicker
I have high hopes - but he will need to be managed properly.
While the squad is smaller than last season I do think it is stronger - Todd is a positive at CB (still have Byrne, Kavanagh and Okedina) - Burke is solid and will strengthen what has been a weak position for a couple of seasons - I think Hickey is a good addition and from I am hearing he is excited about playing for Bohs - Vaughan (even if only for six months) has the potential and opportunity to show he is capable of playing at a high level - and I'm hopeful Martin will prove to be a good understudy for DJT and Whelan. McManus is back from Sligo and a year older which I think will help him. I'm still in two minds about Strods but I think he will be given a chance to show if he can make the step up.
The one big loss is James Clarke and he will be hard to replace. A LB to allow Flores' versitility to be used to the maximum and some depth at both RB and LB would help. Another striker with ability (even if on loan) would give good depth in that position (although Hickey is capable of playing striker) - but I do like what Fenlon/Reynolds have done with the squad so far.
Shels have confirmed their 25 man 2026 squad which includes the unannounced signing back of Sam Bone though last season Shels similarly announced a final squad with Kerr McInroy subsequently signed later on
I'm not convinced that squad has the right balance to challenge for the title, I don't feel last seasons leaky backline has been corrected enough and without signing any new striker we will be betting on last seasons existing forward line having a much improved goalscoring season
https://shelbournefc.ie/reds-2026-pr...list-revealed/
Quote:
The 2026 Shelbourne FC squad is:
Wessel Speel (GK)
Conor Walsh (GK)
Sam Bone (DEF)
Paddy Barrett (DEF)
Sean Gannon (DEF)
Milan Mbeng (DEF)
Tyreke Wilson (DEF)
James Norris (DEF)
Kameron Ledwidge (DEF)
Odhrán Casey (DEF)
James Roche (DEF)
Sean Moore (MID)
JJ Lunney (MID)
Evan Caffrey (MID)
Ellis Chapman (MID)
Daniel Kelly (MID)
Jack Henry-Francis (MID)
Kerr McInroy (MID)
Harry Wood (MID)
Ali Coote (MID)
Maill Lundgren (MID)
Mipo Odubeko (FOR)
John Martin (FOR)
Sean Boyd (FOR)
Dan Ring (FOR)
James McClean to Derry finally happening it seems
Considering they were trying to get Farrugia, you have to assume they're still looking for guys capable of getting into their starting 11 and willing to pay for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by total hoofball
At the moment, they look about a high calibre player short in each line of the field to compete at the top.
I suppose if they could get Boyd fit, they'd offer a lot more up front straight away, and he'd probably increase the amount of goal scoring from midfield too.
BBC confirmed in pre-match buildup. CEO has said James is leaving club.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Belfast Telegraph reporting he is being compensated to cover drop in wages for remainder of current contract (18 months)!.
Where will McClean play for Derry? Considering how high profile a move it is and the amount of money it'll presumably cost them it would feel a bit underwhelming if he's mainly used as a wing back. Would imagine that's the most likely scenario though given he's hardly going to displace Duffy and become a winger again.
wow thats interesting with James McLean moving back to his hometown. I cant remember it at all but with his younger brother Patrick moving back have the two lads played together before?
No idea. Duffy and Fleming were our two best players last year and have the left-hand side sown up. Possible Lynch could look to play him in midfield - but it's a very expensive peg without an obvious hole.
For all the pluses McClean brings (drive, experience and, let's be honest, on-his-day quality) he's also a pure chaotic element who could totally undermine everything else. Won't be boring.
Rumour has it Adam Frizzell is arriving at Windsor this coming week from Derry City. Any good?
Did Duffy not play centrally towards the end of last season. A front 3 of Duffy, McLean and Clarke would be fairly gung-ho and dangerous.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
Think McLean is a fantastic signing. Most of his drama was due to the poppy etc. Cant see him adding anything but professionalism and quality to you. Must be on even more than Clarke tho so serious money being spent and maybe a bit short at the back still?
Very interesting move, plus you'd imagine this will raise crowds at away games, kids all over the country will all want to see him play, ex Ireland and a lot would have seen the Wrexham show.
He might be 37 in a few months, but still plenty in the tank and he keeps himself in great shape.
Good profile for the league and a good signing for Derry.
Duffy pushed in more to allow Fleming space to push forward and get himself more on the ball - but he's still, on paper, the left side of a three-pronged attack or two behind the striker.Quote:
Originally Posted by ontheotherhand
McClean is a consummate professional on the pitch, albeit a bit hot-headed, who isn't afraid to speak his mind at any point on any thing off it. I can see issues if things don't go very well right away. We'll see.
He struggled but also didn't get a lot of game time. Lynch didn't seem to fancy him, which may be telling in itself, but he looked tidy enough most of the time and was keen to make an impression. His last appearance, he was poor, but to be fair he just looked like a guy short on game time and short on confidence. He's also seems fairly slow, but there could be a player there if Healy finds the right role for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruce
Read one of the online articles that its the first time that the 2 McLeans have played together for Derry City.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
I mean that's not surprising considering that Patrick would've been 14 when James left for Sunderland.
Kieran Cooney joins Kerry from Finn Harps - would have thought we needed more midfielders, rather than another defender, but no doubt reinforcements will also be made there before February.
He's crap too.Quote:
Originally Posted by culloty82
Dele Alli to Bohs anyone? I think Bohs fans are on the windup on social media and it is getting a few bites.
It would make more sense for me if Dalymount wasn't sold out for every home game, as a signing like that could really help boost attendances.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
However I imagine with the wages he'd be asking for (Even if it was mostly appearance related), it'd just be too much for Bohs.