New Drogs boss Clancy convinces trio to sign
NEW Drogheda United manager Tim Clancy has begun the process of putting together a squad for 2018 by re-signing three members of last season’s squad - Sean Brennan, Conor Kane and Kevin Farragher.
Brennan, who turns 32 on New Year’s Day, has made 63 starts for the Drogs over the last three seasons, scoring 10 goals, and is a potential captain of the squad, having held the armband on many occasions previously.
The re-signing of Kane, an Under-19 international, is something of a coup and the youngster will be expected to make a big impact after showing his potential in some of the Premier Division games under former manager Pete Mahon.
Farragher, a regular starter in 2016, was one of the heroes of Drogheda’s play-off success against Wexford 12 months ago, but featured only sporadically this year because of injury and will be looking to nail down a regular starting spot at centre-half.
Indeed, Clancy could be a potential partner of his in the heart of the defence - although the new manager, who was appointed successor to Mahon last week, is hoping he won’t have to play.
‘I might register as a player in case there is a crisis in regards to injuries,’ he said, ‘but I think with the job and it being my first experience in management - obviously I have Dave [Robertson, director of football] there to help me - I would rather concentrate on the management side of things.
‘I think if you’re in the middle of it and you’re concentrating on playing, there’s things you might not be able to see properly.
‘More than likely I’ll be on the sideline rather than inside the line.’
Clancy said he expected to make several more signings in the coming days and he is also busy finalising members of his management team. Roberton has already been appointed as director of football but is unlikely to be involved on match night and the manager is seeking an assistant and goalkeeping coach. Also on the agenda will be agreeing the length of his contract.
Clancy said he felt Drogheda’s position on the east coast would help him in his efforts to persuade players to come to United Park rather than signing for other First Division clubs.
‘Geographically, Drogheda is in a strong position when compared to Galway or Finn Harps and there will be plenty of players kicking about over the next few weeks,’ he said.
‘But we don’t want to sign anyone for the sake of it and we won’t be rushed into things without getting the right players.’
Pre-season training is likely to start on January 8th and the first friendly will take place around the 23rd, a month before the league season begins. The annual Jim Malone Cup match against Dundalk is likely to be revived after not taking place in 2017.
Training will be in Ashbourne, as it was this year, although attempts are being made to secure facilities in the Drogheda area in the longer term.
A native of Trim, Clancy is hoping that his local connections will help generate more interest in the club going forward.
‘It would be my home-town club in terms of the catchment area,’ he pointed out. ‘I think Navan, north Meath and a lot of Bettystown would tie into this club and a few of my mates would have gone to Drogheda games, growing up.
‘I suppose if we can get more people interested from that area because of the fact that I’m from Trim, we might get a few more people from there to have a look, and if they enjoy the football we might get a few more fans coming through the gates for a long time to come.’
Last week Tenure native Thomas Byrne, who played for Drogheda United last season, secured a big move to Premier club St Patrick’s Athletic where he joins up with two of the Brennan brothers from Rathmullen. The youngest, Ryan, has signed from Bray Wanderers and the eldest of the siblings, Killian, finalised a new contract with the Inchicore outfit last Thursday.
Another member of last season’s Drogheda squad to move on is Shane Elworthy who last week became the third Drogheda United 2017 squad member to join First Division rivals Longford Town. Chris Mulhall and Jamie Hollywood had already signed for Neale Fenn’s midlanders.