Focus turns to next year as season’s end approaches

FRIDAY night’s game against Derry City had a real end of season feel to it. It can be hard to drag yourself to some of these games when there’s little at stake, especially on a cold Friday night. In comparison to other games against Derry, there was a relatively small Rovers crowd there and who could blame them.

There’s something so admirable about Derry City this season. Like what my colleague Conor O’Grady across the page said, I also think Kenny Shiels is the manager of the year.

I don’t think anyone, including Derry City fans, would have predicted a third placed finish for them this year.

When you think back to the pre- season friendly against Rovers at The Showgrounds, I thought they were going to struggle for the year and I thought that we were going to struggle for the year.

Derry started the season so well and they have not taken their feet off the pedal all year. Shiels is a great character, he’s entertaining, he makes a controversial remark because that’s his opinion, unlike some of the league’s other characters who probably do it merely to get a reaction.

But Shiels’ antics shouldn’t distract from the wonderful job he has done since being announced as manager.

He may not smile too often, and he doesn’t look like the friendliest man in the world but he is really well liked in Derry and he comes across very differently in person.

The squad, on paper, may not look as if it’s one of the best in the league but he has built something good at Derry and I’ve no doubt he will be hoping to improve on that next season, putting more pressure on Dundalk and Cork at the top, god knows it’s getting boring with those two battling it out each year!

There’s no shame in losing to Derry and the reality is that the result won’t have any real bearing on how the season will pan out.

But you have to be disappointed with the way it came. Throwing away a 1- 0 lead is never enjoyable and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s not good.

But look, I think we all know that this season is done and dusted and we have to move on now to next season because it’s going to be a big one for Rovers, and for Dave Robertson.

The off- season is going to be a big one and I’m just looking forward to getting this season over and done with.

There are plenty of things to complain about but what’s the point. It’s been done, it’s nothing new.

A fifth place finish should encourage people to come back next year to watch Rovers, although I know there are a few fans who have become a bit disillusioned but it won’t stop them from coming to games each week I’m sure.

I see Rovers have asked people to turn out for Friday’s game in their numbers, and have asked season ticket holders to pay in if they can.

I actually expected people to be really annoyed about that but the response, so far, has been pretty positive and fans seem to be relatively happy to help Rovers out in that respect.

The off season is always tough for clubs unless there’s some regular income to keep going over the winter so any boost will be welcome at this stage.

Likewise, the end of season awards take place on Saturday night and I would imagine people will happily support the club, whether they can go to the event or not.

We haven’t had end of season events for some team, and a lot of clubs have a regular end of season player of the year event. There’s no harm in getting something like this going every year, it gives people something to look forward to.

It’s easy for matters with the senior team to distract from the underage set- up but there is some wonderful work going on with our youth teams.

The Under 17s will play UCD in the play- offs on Saturday. It’s a shame it’s not at home in Sligo but that’s football.

They have done brilliantly to get this far and there is some real talent within that squad of players who will hopefully go on to play for Rovers senior team one day, and who knows go even further in their careers.

With the Under 15 league also starting next year there is plenty to look forward to, once we can get Friday’s game against Wexford Youths out of the way and this season can end.