2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

**redobit** · 29/12/2023, 6:57 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Potentially points closer at big budget cutbacks at Sligo, rather than simply looking closer to home?

Its definitely both. Lessons learned on the gamble of too many foreign recruits. Budget down on last season given there is no European money.
Our budget was 7th highest last season. To put that into perspective, it was more than the budget in 2012 ... the year we won the league.

**D24Saint** · 29/12/2023, 7:07 PM

Ben McCormack has signed for Waterford. I expected him to leave. He has a bit about him and regular football could help him improve.

**2 Year Contract** · 29/12/2023, 7:09 PM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

Ben McCormack has signed for Waterford. I expected him to leave. He has a bit about him and regular football could help him improve.

Agree on that, good to get a fee for him and comical that Dundalk have missed out on him again

**oriel** · 29/12/2023, 7:11 PM

There's prob a good player in Malley, but he frustrated a lot of Dundalk fans getting picked so many times by SOD last season, had some good games, a lot though he looked almost disinterested.

Good passer of the ball, but always thought he wanted to slow the game down to suit himself, but just wouldn't get 'stuck in', in summary I could never make my mind up on him, be interesting to see how he gets on at Sligo.

**oriel** · 29/12/2023, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Agree on that, good to get a few for him and comical that Dundalk have missed out on him again

The link from Dundalk cooled well over a week ago on McCormack, probably down to wages offered, but we were definitely in for him from early Dec.

**D24Saint** · 29/12/2023, 7:17 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

The link from Dundalk cooled well over a week ago on McCormack, probably down to wages offered, but we were definitely in for him from early Dec.

Are things that tight budget wise ? I wouldn�t have imagined that his demands were that high. He barely kicked a ball for us last season.

**culloty82** · 29/12/2023, 7:20 PM

Kerry sign Jack Kavanagh from Athlone, meaning the defence seems well covered now, but as things stand, we have four midfielders and two strikers, so that'll presumably be the New Year focus. Interesting that he is 21, and Spain is 22, so perhaps there's a deliberate policy to concentrate on younger players?

**oriel** · 29/12/2023, 7:36 PM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

Are things that tight budget wise ? I wouldn�t have imagined that his demands were that high. He barely kicked a ball for us last season.

New DFC owner said budget for 2024 would be same as 2023, so not fully sure, maybe it was the difference of a few hundred and player went for higher offer (understandable), but def Dundalk seemed to cool off on their interest from what I heard last few weeks.

**SPXcyan** · 29/12/2023, 8:02 PM

Interesting that the club has paid out yet another fee for a player here, a third one to be announced tomorrow, also a fee paid.

**RealJohn91** · 29/12/2023, 8:14 PM

Originally Posted by SPXcyan

Interesting that the club has paid out yet another fee for a player here, a third one to be announced tomorrow, also a fee paid.

It's going to become more and more common now. I don't think it's really dawned on a lot fans who follow the league how small the pool of home based proven players there is available. Going by the reactions online to the lack of business being done by some clubs it'll probably take a while yet for that to happen.

**Kingswood Rover** · 29/12/2023, 9:33 PM

Originally Posted by Philosophizer

I think Kenny is quite good. His touch and link up play are usually decent when I�ve seen him but he�s usually horrendous in front of goal. I think it�s a confidence issue with him. If he can bag a few goals and go on a run he could be v good.

Kenny has real potential, he is very quick, has a great touch and can turn defenders at ease. Yes his finishing has been poor but is he even 20 yet? hopefully he is with us next year and can convert more of the chances he gets.

**Jack B** · 30/12/2023, 12:58 AM

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.

**total hoofball** · 30/12/2023, 10:06 AM

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

**Dermobohs** · 30/12/2023, 10:25 AM

Afolabi is a huge loss for us, nigh on impossible to pick up lads that good in this league. Wish him all the best, never ever gave it less than flat out effort, and a lovely lad too.

**Nesta99** · 30/12/2023, 10:58 AM

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.

Right now any signing for Dundalk will feel like an impactful signing.

**SeanDrog** · 30/12/2023, 11:23 AM

Rumours that Dundalk and a few others were after Evan Weir but just announced that he is now with Walsaw FC and on loan to Drogs till the summer at least.

**Nesta99** · 30/12/2023, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by SeanDrog

Rumours that Dundalk and a few others were after Evan Weir but just announced that he is now with Walsaw FC and on loan to Drogs till the summer at least.

This could end up being an interesting case in due course. A player moving from a club to another club having the same owner with a fee and then loan back. Not a big deal in this case but could be if top clubs use this loophole in muticlub ownership to manipulate FFP. Hypothetical, Sheik Mansour owns Man City and say Valencia, City are pushing limits on players they can sign for major money so Valencia sign the player and then the player is loaned to City. It may be happening already but on a scale below the radar but I can see the potential for abuse meaning a rule change which would then change the whole 'feeder club' setup. Waterford/Fleetwood, Drogs/Walsall, Shels/Hull wont cause a furore but its only a matter of time that it does elsewhere and that could be a problem for these linkups if their purpoe ends up being limited.

**Longfordian** · 30/12/2023, 1:35 PM

Chris Lyons has signed for LTFC. Could be a useful addition.

**sulywaterfordfc** · 30/12/2023, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

This could end up being an interesting case in due course. A player moving from a club to another club having the same owner with a fee and then loan back. Not a big deal in this case but could be if top clubs use this loophole in muticlub ownership to manipulate FFP. Hypothetical, Sheik Mansour owns Man City and say Valencia, City are pushing limits on players they can sign for major money so Valencia sign the player and then the player is loaned to City. It may be happening already but on a scale below the radar but I can see the potential for abuse meaning a rule change which would then change the whole 'feeder club' setup. Waterford/Fleetwood, Drogs/Walsall, Shels/Hull wont cause a furore but its only a matter of time that it does elsewhere and that could be a problem for these linkups if their purpoe ends up being limited.

Wasn�t it announced the Hull owner relinquished his shares in Shels club and handed them back to the board for free?