Callan McFadden and McCabe commit for 2018
SLIGO Rovers’ safety had just been confirmed 12 hours earlier, but plans for the 2018 season were already in motion on Saturday morning.
Rhys McCabe and Kyle Callan-McFadden, two of the nominees for player of the year, had been confirmed as signing ahead of the new season. And both had agreed to stay prior to Friday night.
They join Craig Roddan, Micheal Schlingermann, Regan Donelon, Jack Keaney, Ed McGinty and John Mahon in the list of players signed up for next season.
“I’m delighted,” Ger Lyttle told the assembled press on Saturday morning.
“I spoke before about how important recruitment is, with the boys it’s so important we’re able to keep our so called best players and keep them away from other clubs. In the past it’s been the case where we’ve been losing too many good players to the likes of the Corks and Dundalks. It’s important to try and build from here.
“I’m not having a pop at anyone but recruitment in the past hasn’t been good enough,” he added. AND the former Cliftonville boss is thrilled that the pair have commit- ted to the club for next year. “They wanted to stay and it shows their commitment and a bit about them that what we have here and what we’re trying to build. They’re a part of that and I’m delighted they are.”
Having been in that position before, Lyttle is keen to give players an honest answer over the next couple of weeks regarding their futures at the club.
A number of others from the 2017 squad are expected to remain at the club, while Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and Daniel Kearns are reportedly among the departures from the club.
“It’s going to be a busy two weeks, sitting down and speaking to them. It’s been difficult in the last three or four weeks. It’s horrible for the boys, they don’t know where their future is and they’re in limbo a little bit. We couldn’t really sit down with any of the players until we knew exactly where we’re going to be next year.
“To pull off wins and performances as we’ve done with that hanging over their heads you’ve got to credit the boys. We’ll be sitting down this week with the boys and giving them an honest answer, I’ve a really good bunch of boys there. They turned things around and you’ve got to applaud them,” Lyttle continued.
He already has a list of targets from the league, while Lyttle also reiterated his desire to see developing players come into the senior squad.
“We have (targets) and it’s important that the recruitment is right this season. I think we need to identify players who are doing it every week and every year in this league, who know the league. I’ve made it clear when I came in about developing players for other clubs. We’ve a really good development squad coming up. We’ve seen the Jack Keaneys coming up and Ed coming on, and John (Mahon) on the bench. They’re local guys and they know what it’s about. I’d rather develop them and bring them on. The future is good for them. The infrastructure, everything is here.”
A crucial player for Rovers this season, Kyle Callan McFadden’s commitment for next year will have come as a huge relief to Rovers fans, with rumours circulating that he was a target for Cork City’s John Caulfield.
“I’m delighted to be back. It was a difficult season, we just got over the line and hopefully we can build on it. Great to be back here again,” the Donegal native said on Saturday.
“I loved it here. From the day I came here everyone made me feel welcome. The league is far bigger than what people make it out to be. A lot of people in England would look down on the league but I think it’s a great league and a good standard. I have a lot of love for this club because they brought me back into proper football. They’re doing things right here and that’s why I decided stay on.
“We’re looking forward to next season and pushing on to do better things than this season,” he added.
Ger Lyttle was one of the reasons Kyle was keen to stay on, too.
“The gaffer’s been great since he came in. His aim when he came in was to keep us in the league and he’s done that.”
He insists that right now they are focused on rebuilding: “We just focused on ourselves. After the Shamrock Rovers game we knew it was in our hands to keep us in this league, and we didn’t care about Galway or Harps or whoever it was and we got the job done. We’re focused on rebuilding.
“With the gaffer having a full pre-season with us, he will have a full season to work with us and he’ll know us more and he’ll know us more.”