2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

**2 Year Contract** · 30/12/2023, 5:01 PM

Adam Murphy on his way to Bristol City. Pats will get almost �250k compensation though which is great money for any player that�s out of contract

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/11925964...-bristol-city/

**oriel** · 30/12/2023, 7:51 PM

Originally Posted by Jack B

Surprised by the mention of a fee being thrown around for McCormack, seemed to be assumed that he was out of contract but perhaps not. Good player in there but it's a matter of getting it out of him as there were some question marks over him at Pats. I think he'll probably be more of an impactful signing for Waterford than he would have been Dundalk.

Seems the move was driven by Pats not wanting to do business with Dundalk as opposed to any compensation to agree, odd if true, but nothing really should surprise these days in LOI.

**Shearer** · 30/12/2023, 9:01 PM

Sean Guerins and Conor Barry leave Treaty United.

Will be tough going with a relatively young squad so far.

**sulywaterfordfc** · 30/12/2023, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by total hoofball

I believe McCormack was out of contract at Pats but they would still be entitled to the usual u23 compensation fee as he is still only 20

I can't see Waterford having to pay any crazy sum as he only made 21 first team starts with 49 substitute appearances over 4 seasons, with him playing there under 3 different managers with no contract renewal being offered doesn't sound like Pats believe he was going to be a top LOI player

He was on a long term contract at Pats by all accounts. Probably the reason why he wasn�t offered a new contract, as he wasn�t out of contract�

�Ben McCormack signs for Waterford for an undisclosed fee�. No mention of compensation/out of contract. Taking from St. Pats themselves.

**D24Saint** · 31/12/2023, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Adam Murphy on his way to Bristol City. Pats will get almost �250k compensation though which is great money for any player that�s out of contract

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/11925964...-bristol-city/

That�s a huge blow. We will need to replace him quick and we need a RB in aswell.

**2 Year Contract** · 31/12/2023, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

That�s a huge blow. We will need to replace him quick and we need a RB in aswell.

Can�t see a third right back being brought in. Definitely need another centre midfielder though, and another centre back too if one of McGrath or Norman aren�t here next year (both still TBC)

**Jack B** · 31/12/2023, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Can�t see a third right back being brought in. Definitely need another centre midfielder though, and another centre back too if one of McGrath or Norman aren�t here next year (both still TBC)

Agreed, I think McLaughlin was probably signed in the first place with a view to replacing Curtis. Fitness allowing he and Sjoberg should be good. The squad looks pretty good overall but needs some depth in the other positions at the back and a good replacement for Murphy/Lyness would be nice.

**total hoofball** · 01/01/2024, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc

He was on a long term contract at Pats by all accounts. Probably the reason why he wasn�t offered a new contract, as he wasn�t out of contract�

�Ben McCormack signs for Waterford for an undisclosed fee�. No mention of compensation/out of contract. Taking from St. Pats themselves.

Well by all accounts from the Indo and Dundalk Democrat last month during Dundalk's interest he was out of contract at Pats. Also nothing further from Pats regarding any change in his contract status since they announced contract extensions for both McCormack and Burns back in July 2021

https://www.independent.ie/regionals...708252651.html

https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/...23-season.html

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8947

**D24Saint** · 01/01/2024, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Jack B

Agreed, I think McLaughlin was probably signed in the first place with a view to replacing Curtis. Fitness allowing he and Sjoberg should be good. The squad looks pretty good overall but needs some depth in the other positions at the back and a good replacement for Murphy/Lyness would be nice.

I�d have some faith in McLaughlin but not Sjoberg tbh. He isn�t good enough to be a regular RB at this level and he is constantly plagued by injuries.

**Jack B** · 01/01/2024, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

I�d have some faith in McLaughlin but not Sjoberg tbh. He isn�t good enough to be a regular RB at this level and he is constantly plagued by injuries.

Hard to know with Sjoberg as he really barely played, he looked alright when he did and they obviously rate him enough to have kept him on, all going well he'll likely only be second choice anyway. Thought McLaughlin looked good when he played but he had Curtis ahead of him and had been without a club for a while so building up his fitness was an issue. He's got a good 150+ games across the Championship, SPL, League One and international level in his career though which by LOI standards is quite impressive, so with a good run of fitness I can see him being a perfectly able replacement even if not at the ridiculous level Curtis was. We've currently got three centre backs including Grivosti coming off an ACL injury and only one left back in Breslin so I'd see both positions as more of a priority for adding depth to right now.

**sulywaterfordfc** · 01/01/2024, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by total hoofball

Well by all accounts from the Indo and Dundalk Democrat last month during Dundalk's interest he was out of contract at Pats. Also nothing further from Pats regarding any change in his contract status since they announced contract extensions for both McCormack and Burns back in July 2021

https://www.independent.ie/regionals...708252651.html

https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/...23-season.html

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8947

The wordings from Pats and the statement by Waterford have no mention of the player being out of contract. Imo it appears as though it is an actual transfer. Doesn�t matter hugely to be truth. I�m happy with the signing likewise is the fan base. Need several more incomings still, think we�ve 15 signed atm.

**2 Year Contract** · 01/01/2024, 1:39 PM

Originally Posted by Jack B

Hard to know with Sjoberg as he really barely played, he looked alright when he did and they obviously rate him enough to have kept him on, all going well he'll likely only be second choice anyway. Thought McLaughlin looked good when he played but he had Curtis ahead of him and had been without a club for a while so building up his fitness was an issue. He's got a good 150+ games across the Championship, SPL, League One and international level in his career though which by LOI standards is quite impressive, so with a good run of fitness I can see him being a perfectly able replacement even if not at the ridiculous level Curtis was. We've currently got three centre backs including Grivosti coming off an ACL injury and only one left back in Breslin so I'd see both positions as more of a priority for adding depth to right now.

Good point on Breslin. He missed a couple of games through suspension in 2022 but other than that he�s started pretty much every game for the last 2 years and we had no backup left back in the squad last season. If that free run of injuries ends then we�d be snookered really. McClelland can and has filled in there in the past (along with most positions on the pitch!) but if Breslin was to pick up a long term injury without another natural LB in the squad it would massively affect the team IMO

**Jack B** · 01/01/2024, 3:02 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Good point on Breslin. He missed a couple of games through suspension in 2022 but other than that he�s started pretty much every game for the last 2 years and we had no backup left back in the squad last season. If that free run of injuries ends then we�d be snookered really. McClelland can and has filled in there in the past (along with most positions on the pitch!) but if Breslin was to pick up a long term injury without another natural LB in the squad it would massively affect the team IMO

Yeah I think we've been fortunate with Breslin's availability, great trait to have mind! I suppose if we were to re-sign either Norman or McGrath then being left footed they could cover that final centre back position as well as Breslin if in a pinch though, as can McClelland as you say although he's been a bit ropey there on the rare times he's filled in there. Overall we're looking good but if I were being greedy I wouldn't say no to any of another keeper (Lyness/replacement for him), centre back, left back, centre mid (Murphy replacement) or winger.