HEAVEN KEEGAN
Tribe excited over new league structure
ANTO FLOOD has left crisis club Bray Wanderers for non league Sheriff YC.
The striker joined the Seagulls last winter having returned to Ireland following time away in Australia.
Flood - who won a league title with St Pat’s in 2013 - scored three goals in his 15 league appearances, 10 of which were starts for Harry Kenny’s charges.
The Seagulls are no closer to GALWAY UNITED boss Shane Keegan is braced for the most exciting First Division season in years.
But he claims the FAI’S tinkering of the structure is not without its faults and feels some clubs are struggling to settle on budgets.
Each team will play 27 games and the First Division winners will secure top flight promotion while the second, third and fourth-placed sides contest the play-offs.
Third and fourth meet over two legs and the winner faces the team that finishes second. The winner of that twolegged tie then plays the Premier Division’s ninthplaced side - also over two legs - to determine who goes up and down
Fixtures will be released on December 19 but Keegan told Mirror Sport: “It’s possible the league winners could finish their season by the end of September.
“But if you go all the way in the play-offs, it might be the end of October or into November before you’re actually done.that could be a appointing a new manager after Kenny stepped down at the end of a difficult season off the pitch.
But Bohemians are keen on Bray’s Hugh Douglas, Keith Buckley, Karl Moore and Kevin Lynch.
And Belfast giants Linfield are not giving up on Bray midfielder Gary Mccabe, despite signing Kurtis Byrne from St Pat’s this week.
St Pat’s are keen on right-back Simon Madden whose departure from Shamrock Rovers last week six-week gap, so how do you make a budget on that? It’s definitely a better structure and everybody has a great chance, but the big issue is budgets.”
Keegan added: “It’s a bit mad but they are practical and logistical problems that can be worked out.
“It’s going to be an incredibly interesting season because most of the teams in the league will think they have a chance of finishing in the top four.”
The Tribesmen are bidding to return to the Premier Division at the first time of asking following relegation on the final day of the season.
Keegan is poised to announce a number of signings but has seen a host of his big-name players depart.
Skipper Colm Horgan (above) joined Cork, ace striker Ronan Murray and top defender Stephen Folan were snapped up by Dundalk while rising star Rory Hale joined Derry City.
“Some people are saying ‘how could you let them go’,” said Keegan. “But I say ‘how could I keep them?’.
“That’s five of our squad came as a shock. But they face competition from Waterford who are bolstering their squad ahead of their Premier Division return.
The Saints are confident of re-signing Killian Brennan and Barry Murphy ahead of next season.
But Billy Dennehy and his brother Darren Dennehy are free agents as they will not be returning to Inchicore. Darren was sidelined with injury for the bulk of last season while Billy finished the season on fire playing European football next season. There’s no way I could have talked them out of that!
“David Cawley was one I hoped might stay but he discussed the Sligo Rovers offer with me and I understand why he’s gone, even if it is disappointing.
“Gavin Holohan has been on trial with Grimsby and it looks like he has options in England but we have the bones of half a squad at the moment and I’m working away.”
Keegan added: “I don’t have a budget yet – we were waiting for confirmation of the structures and now we have to plan budgets for two different scenarios.
“Nobody knows how long their season will be but these changes are near enough to what the First Division clubs wanted, so it’s not a huge issue.
“Some of the bookmakers have us as marginal favourites to win the league ahead of Longford and that’s fine.
“I’m grateful to the board as they had a decision to make at the end of the season. I might have got the bullet at other clubs, so I’m determined to repay their faith.” after a subdued first-half of the campaign.
And he could attract interest from Limerick, or First Division promotion hopefuls Galway United.
Shamrock Rovers have re-signed defenders Luke Byrne and Sam Bone, as well as back-up goalkeeper Kevin Horgan.
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley said: “The squad is building really well and I’m very happy with our progress at this stage.”