Benson back but Kenny rules out a move for McEneff
SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
DUNDALK manager Stephen Kenny has not ruled out adding further new signings to his squad this month but insists it will not be Derry City midfielder Aaron McEneff.
The 22-year-old PFAI Player of the Year nominee has been heavily linked with a move to the Lilywhites in recent weeks despite the fact he has a year left on his contract at the Brandywell.
While Dundalk have shown in recent times with the signing of Dylan Connolly from Bray Wanderers last summer that they are prepared to pay to get their man, Kenny told The Argus on Sunday that there was ‘no possibility’ of McEneff moving to Oriel Park this winter.
‘I don’t know where that came from,’ said the manager.
‘There’s no possibility of that happening and it was never on the cards.
‘He’s a fantastic player, of course but he’s contracted to Derry City and they would be looking for a six figure sum from the UK if they were to let him leave.’
Dundalk have already brought in four new players in the off-season with Ronan Murray becoming the latest addition last Tuesday when his move from Galway Utd was announced. He follows on from the captures of Patrick Hoban, Dean Jarvis and Stephen Folan the previous week.
It is likely that there will be at least one more new arrival at Oriel and possibly more depending on the futures of David McMillan and Patrick McEleney.
Last season’s top scorer McMillan has been heavily linked with a move to Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone. He met with Kenny to discuss his future last week but those discussions were held up by the passing of his grandmother and will resume this week.
A decision on his future, as well as that of Patrick McEleney is expected this week.
McEleney has been heavily linked with a number of League One and League Two sides including Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers but The Argus understands that Oldham Athletic are the only English side with a firm interest in the 25-year-old.
Talks will also resume with John Mountney on his return from holidays on renewing his deal at Oriel Park for a sixth season.
Robbie Benson did pen a new deal at Oriel Park on Monday which brings to 16 the number of players signed on for next season.
Kenny has yet to hold talks with Georgie Poynton, who spent last season on loan at Bohemians, but he is expected to be part of the squad as well.
Should McMillan, McEleney and Mountney remain that would bring to 20 the number of players signed up for next season with Kenny hopeful of working off a squad of ‘20 or 21’ leaving the door open for new signings.
If any of that trio move on then the manager will look to replace them.
Carlton Ubaezuono is also on the books for next season but could be set to depart on loan with Galway Utd amongst the clubs interested.
The door has also not been completely closed on a possible return to the club for Steven Kinsella, whose loan from Everton last season was heavily disrupted by injury. He remains sidelined having missed the end of the season and the FAI Cup final but Kenny said he would see how it is, insisting the player was ‘only 18’ and had his best days in front of him.
He admitted that even if he held onto the out of contract players he hopes to retain then he may need another ‘attacking player’ but said he was happy with the ‘good progress’ made on shaping a squad so far.
A key part of that was the addition of Murray on a one year deal and Kenny praised the Mayo native for committing to full-time football next year.
‘Ronan scored 17 goals last season, 13 of them in the league, which is a fantastic return when you consider he wasn’t playing as a centre forward. He either played in the number 10 role, up front as part of a two, or from the left.
‘He has good experience having won League Two with Swindon under Paolo Di Canio.
‘He’s only 25 but he has a good attitude. He’s making a big commitment coming here because he’s based in Belmullet and is still an hour from home when he gets to Ballina. It’s something like a four-and-a-half hour journey home for him and when we were discussing it he made the point that he’d be as quick getting to America as Dundalk.
‘He went to Ipswich at 15 and last year was only his first year back home so he was reluctant at first to move again. He could have went to Sligo and stayed at home but he wanted to come here and we’re delighted to have him.
‘He’s an important addition for us because we need to create competition for places. We have a lot of games next year between Europe and the cups and we could play up to 50 games so we will need that sort of quality.
‘Last year we brought in a lot of young players who will all be better for last year’s experience but this year the players we have brought in have a lot more experience and are in the prime of their careers,’ said Kenny.
While there remains work to be done in finalising his squad on the field, there could be more changes off the field next season.
It was announced at the weekend that physio Fearghal Kerin was departing as the club’s change to a full-time setup with training during the day did not fit into his schedule with Leinster Rugby. There could be similar problems for strength and conditioning coach Graham Byrne due to his role at DCU but terms of that have yet to be finalised.
Sam Rice will remain part of the medical team next season with an appointment to work alongside him expected this week.
Steve Williams will also remain on as goalkeeping coach while Vinny Perth is also expected to stay at the club despite speculation linking him with the vacant manager’s job at Drogheda Utd.
The fixtures for next season’s Premier Division will be released on Tuesday December 19th with the President’s Cup tie with Cork City confirmed for Oriel Park on Sunday February 11th. The new league season will then kick-off five days later on Friday February 16th.
Dundalk have yet to finalise the remainder of their pre-season plans with the impending takeover of the club believed to be a factor but the squad will report back for pre-season training on January 6th.
He’s a fantastic player, of course but he’s contracted to Derry City and they would be looking for a six figure sum from the UK if they were to let him leave