Boost for Lilywhites fans as Massey signs a new deal
DANE Massey has won it all at Dundalk FC but he believes there are many more exciting times ahead at the club.
The defender gave Lilywhites supporters a welcome boost last week when he put pen to paper on a new two-year deal.
The 30-year-old has been at Oriel Park since being snapped up by former manager Stephen Kenny from Bray Wanderers ahead of the 2013 season. Indeed, with 243 appearances, no player played more than Massey under the new Republic of Ireland U-21 boss with the left-back featuring in 181 of Kenny’s 201 league matches in charge.
Massey, who holds the club record of most appearances in Europe with 24, has won four league titles, two FAI Cups and two EA Sports Cups in his time at Oriel Park but despite losing the man who conjured up that success he feels Dundalk are still the team to beat next season.
“I’m delighted to sign for another two years,” he said.
“To be honest there was nowhere else I’d rather play football in this country at the minute and there’s exciting times ahead at the club I feel with a new management team, the new owners are settling in now as well, the facilities are progressing and in terms of the squad strength it’s probably the strongest we’ve ever been going into a new season so there’s exciting times ahead.”
Massey admitted it would be strange not to have Stephen Kenny in the dug out next season but backed Vinny Perth to ensure continuity at the club.
“Stephen was fantastic. What he did during his time at the club was unbelievable. His eye for talent was scary.
“Obviously we’re very sad to see him go but that’s football. He’s gone to the top job in the country to be fair to him but I’m sure whoever comes in will do as good a job.
“We still have Vinny and Ru- aidhrí Higgins there so I wouldn’t say there will be a huge amount of change.”
Massey described his six seasons at Oriel as an “absolute whirlwind” given all he and teammates have achieved but he is now looking forward to the new challenge of playing under a different manager.
“It’s going to be a challenge next season because there will be change at the club so we need to come together as players and be even closer as such. It definitely is a challenge but there’s no better squad to rise to that.
“It’s refreshing for a change that we don’t really have to replace anyone. Most of the lads have signed back and it’s great to have that squad together going into pre-season. It’s such a close-knit squad as well so that adds to it as well. We’re all looking forward to getting back in and getting stuck in again.”
The Knocklyon man also said that progress in Europe, where Dundalk will be seeded for the Champions League first round qualifier, was a major aim in 2019.
“We’re seeded now going into Europe so that gives us a huge advantage,” he said.
“It’s exciting because we weren’t as well off the last time we got into the group stages. We’ve a great opportunity there and we have to take it.”