Clancy in no rush to add to United squad

DROGHEDA United boss Tim Clancy is unlikely to add to his current squad of 13 players until after the run of pre-season games begins with the visit of Bohemians next Tuesday.

The recently appointed manager is biding his time and insists there’s no hurry to sign more players, with five weeks to go before the Boynesiders host Finn Harps in their league opener on February 23rd.

‘It will be good to get the pre-season games under way because it’ll give us a chance to see the lads we are thinking of bringing in,’ said Clancy, speaking on Monday morning.

‘There’s no rush, but we’re hoping to finalise our squad in the next couple of weeks. I’m looking at adding three or four first-team players and we’ve have a centre-back, midfielders and an attacking player training with us at the moment.

‘We need either a left-sided player or a striker - we don’t know yet - but we won’t sign players just for the sake of it. We have to make sure they are right for the squad, for footballing ability and, perhaps most importantly, what they offer in terms of application.’

Clancy said he was delighted with the way pre-season has panned out so far.

‘It’s been really good and the lads have been top-class with their workrate in training. I’m really happy with how that is going and I’m really looking forward to seeing them playing next week.’

Clancy said he was considering holding a behind-closeddoors game before or after the Bohemians match, while Drogheda will also visit Dundalk on the 27th, Derry City on February 2nd as well as hosting Bray Wanderers on February 9th.

The Boynesiders have been drawn at home to one of three non-league clubs - Bangor Celtic, Crettyard United or Mullingar Athletic - in the Leinster Senior Cup fourth round. The winners of the outstanding second-round tie between Bangor and Crettyard will face Mullingar for the right to meet the Boynesiders.

Clancy hopes Drogheda will be able to schedule that Leinster match before the start of the league season on February 23rd.

In terms of the management team, Clancy is still hoping to confirm the identity of the club’s new goalkeeping coach in the coming days.

•Drogheda United’s Division 1 rivals Wexford Youths have signed striker John Morgan from Boyne Rovers’ Leinster Senior League team.