‘Will Rovers be getting the prolific goal scorer that left the League of Ireland six years ago?’
THERE will be mixed views amongst Dundalk supporters at last week’s news that one of their former favourites, Richie Towell has spurned the club’s overtures and instead as opted to sign an agreement to join Shamrock Rovers in July next when his contract ends with Salford City.
Unquestionably Oriel Park fans would love to see the Richie Towell that left the club in November, 2015 to join Brighton and Hove Albion return, for in that 2015 season before his departure the midfielder set new goal scoring records, hitting the net a total of 31 times, including the winner in the Cup final against Cork City.
But will Rovers be getting the prolific goal scorer that left the League of Ireland six years ago, and is he worth the investment that Rovers are making in the player which is reported to be anything between €500,000 and €1m over the term of his three year contract, including a sign-on fee.
The player will be celebrating his 30th birthday in the month that he arrives at Tallaght Stadium, and clearly the Hoops are taking a big gamble on the midfielder in the hope that he can help them in their quest for European glory this year since they will have two bites at the European cherry as Dundalk had last season, yielding a rich dividend.
Many Dundalk fans take the view that the player is not worth that outlay considering his age, and the fact that he himself never realised his stated ambition of moving to England to force his way into the Republic of Ireland squad.
Admittedly he was unfortunate when he joined Brighton as a serious injury prevented him from making an instant impact and before leaving to join Rotherham United on loan in 2017 he made just one senior appearance with the south coast side.
At Rotherham United he had considerable success helping them to win promotion from Division I to the championship in his first season and he remained with the club, again on loan from Brighton, the following season when they were relegated back to Division 1.
In total he played 73 times with The Millers and scored nine goals, his goal tally reflecting the fact that he has been used in a more deep lying midfield than his time at Dundalk.
When his contract ended with Brighton he was signed by Salford City the club owned by former Manchester United players, the Neville brothers Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes and has been a regular in the Division II side that are pushing for a play-off place this season.
Again he has been out for a long spell this season with injury, but has returned to the side recently and was a substitute in their scoreless draw with Southend at the week-end.
In opting for to join Rovers instead of Dundalk, Towell will be playing alongside former teammates at Oriel, Ronan Finn and Sean Gannon but in returning to Ireland will be taking a different route two other former colleagues, Andy Boyle and David McMillan who opted to re-join Dundalk when their stints finished in England.
Towell’s decision to join Rovers could turn Dundalk’s focus on another of their former players, Daryl Horgan with reports that he too may be returning to Ireland at the end of the season.
Rumours, as they always do, are never far from the surface in town, but the player, as most fans know, has close links with Dundalk, since his wife is a native.
Currently the winger/midfielder is with Wycombe Wanderers, who are well adrift at the bottom of the Championship, and came on as a substitute in Sunday’s loss to leaders, Norwich City.
He joined Wycombe at the start of the season after a successful spell in Scotland with Hibernian who he joined from Preston North End having signed for the English club from Dundalk at the start of the 2017 season.
Unlike Towell, the Galway native achieved his ambition to play with the Republic of Ireland, and was in Stephen Kenny’s squad during the November series when he impressed.
At 29 he represents a much better prospect than Towell at this stage, and if he is intent on returning home then Dundalk fans would feel that he would be a more prudent investment for the club.
The progress of Towell and Horgan, in addition to other players who have left Dundalk in recent seasons has become something of a hobby with supporters many of whom are delighted to see the progress thatt Jamie McGrath is making at St. Mirren..
His goal against Ross County on Saturday from the penalty spot was his 10th of the season for Jim Goodwin’s team that has strengthened their position in the top six of the Premiership, holding out the prospect that they will make the top six at the cut off point.
McGrath left Dundalk to further his career, and at 24 he is regarded as a transfer target for bigger clubs, for he has established himself in Scottish football, playing 39 times since leaving Dundalk.
He plays alongside another former Dundalk player, Dylan Connolly at St. Mirren and the winger is also getting regular football. Another Dundalk player, Jordan Flores who left the club in December having made an impact in the latter stages of last season, especially in the Europa League games, has yet to hold down a regular place with his new club, Hull City who are pushing hard for promotion from Division 1 to the Championship.