BYRNING DESIRE
Jack: Rovers not a step back
JACK BYRNE knows some will say his move to the League of Ireland is a sign of ‘failure’.
But the former Manchester City starlet doesn’t see it that way and insists Shamrock Rovers can bring the best out of him.
“The decision I made was for myself – I didn’t really make too much of what people were saying,” he said. “Hopefully it will take me good places, you never know.
“It was a good feeling and I just went with it. It’s not doom and gloom as everybody thinks. I’m really enjoying it, it’s great.”
Dubliner Byrne, 22, is arguably the most eye-catching close season signing of the entire league.
He has bags of ability. That talent has never been in question. But his temperament has although Hoops boss Stephen Bradley insists Byrne has “left his ego at home”.
Three years ago, Byrne was called into the senior Ireland squad by Martin O’neill for training purposes. And, at the time, he believed he would be the next big thing.
Byrne spent six years at City but thrived on loan with Dutch top flight side Cambuur. He then had varying degrees success with a string of quick-fire moves elsewhere.
A brief spell at Blackburn just didn’t work out and he then sealed a permanent move to Wigan but was loaned to Oldham before joining them full-time.
But the Latics were a basket case behind the scenes and Byrne then SHAMROCK ROVERS hope to sign Orhan
Vojic and Leon Pohls this week.
The Austrian striker and German goalkeeper have been on trial with the Hoops and featured off the bench in Friday’s pre-season win over Brentford ‘B’.
Vojic was with Wolfsburg’s reserves moved to Kilmarnock last year but that too was short-lived.
Now the Ballybough man – who used to make the short walk to Tolka Park to watch Shels as an teen – is looking to reignite his career on home soil.
It helped that he knew the likes of Bradley and Stephen Mcphail from playing in their regular five-a-sides when home for his summer holidays.
“It wasn’t as big a decision as some people make it out,” he said of the move back. “I’m around my family so it wasn’t a huge decision
“I did (six) years at Man City. Six years at Wigan, Blackburn, Oldham, Cambuur. I don’t think it’s a failure.
“Some people go over at the back end of their careers. They go away 24 to 32 and spend eight years over there.
“I went away a little bit earlier and I’ve a lot left in me. Hopefully I can just get enjoying my football and enjoy games.”
Byrne continued: “I still played a lot of football in 2018. For Oldham, I started every game I was there towards the back end of the season.
“Unfortunately we got relegated. I went to Kilmarnock on the last day of the window.
“They got off to a great start and the manager (Steve Clarke) wasn’t changing his starting XI so it was tough to get in but I still worked hard and kept my head down.
“I was hoping while Pohls played in Eintracht Norderstedt’s youth ranks.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said: “We’re not far off with the keeper and
I’ve known about Orhan for a while. It’s not done but hopefully we can get it done.”
Alan Mannus, inset, is Rovers’ No 1 but backup is needed after Kevin Horgan was allowed to return to Galway United, while Gavin Bazunu has left for Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Bradley is backing new arrival Jack Byrne to provide fireworks on the pitch this season. for the break.
It just didn’t come and
Steve said he would be helpful if I wanted to come home and play more games. That’s all it is.
“I don’t think it was a disaster. I came on in most of the games up there. As much as I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, I still really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.”
A creative midfield spark, Byrne knows he will be a marked man this season – but is relishing the battles.
“Me? I don’t care,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me, it is what it is. It’s a compliment if they do. I can only feed off it.”
Bradley, right, said of the former Manchester City prospect: “The pleasing thing is he’s left his ego at home. He’s worked like everyone else has worked – really hard.
“His attitude has been first class and he has shown that he wants to be a proper footballer here.“ KEVIN O’CONNOR believes Cork City will bring the best out of him.
The club’s former left-back, inset, has returned from
Preston North
End to Turner’s
Cross on loan until the summer – but possibly until the end of the season.
Having scored a superb long-range freekick in Saturday’s 2-1 President’s Cup defeat to Dundalk, he insists he is loving football again. “It didn’t go well for me over in England the first time but I still have 18 months left and I’ll see my options after,” he said.
“But at the moment I’m just concentrating on Cork. It was about getting home, getting games and playing as well as I can.
“I feel at home here so you might as well play where you’re happy.”