Lyttle looking overseas to boost his Rovers squad

SLIGO Rovers manager Ger Lyttle has admitted that the superior financial muscle of rival clubs has made it difficult for him to sign top talent from the domestic scene. The Bit O’Red boss has already secured fourteen players for the upcoming season. Three of those players coming from other Irish clubs in the form of midfielders Adam Wixted, Caolan McAleer and David Cawley. While the remaining 11 were already at the club last term. Although he says has plenty of options in the UK and further afield, Lyttle says he found the going tough when it came to trying to attract players already playing in the league.

The Belfast man had hoped to land Finn Harps defender Ethan Boyle but Shamrock Rovers were willing to pay a hefty compensation fee for the Wexford native. Dundalk’s ability to offer Ronan Murray a two year deal scuppered Lyttle’s hopes of landing the former Galway star. While Linfield’s offer to striker Kurtis Byrne was too good for the player to turn down.

But with over two months to go until the kick-off of the 2018 season, Lyttle is far from panicking.

“It’s important we get the right players in”, he states. “It’s very difficult, I’ll not lie about that. You have a small pool of players in this league to pick from. I spoke to the players I identified that I wanted to bring to Sligo very early.

“But unfortunately the bigger clubs have come in and just swiped them away from us. It’s frustrating but it is what it is. We’ll continue to keep looking at different leagues in different countries and try and use what contacts we have there because I think we’ve exhausted all our options here.”

He also questioned the desire and ambition of some players in not coming to a club like Sligo Rovers and potentially becoming part of a project rather than play a less pivotal role at a Dundalk, Cork City or Shamrock Rovers.

“Are they ambitious to play every week and challenge themselves to come to a club like Sligo and be part of something special, similar to what Dundalk have done over the past five or so years? Or are they happy to pick up a really good wage, sit on the bench and play a bit-part?

“But that’s up to the individual. All we can do is sell ourselves to the player and explain what we’re trying to do long-term.”

The Rovers boss also explained that he is keen to add an extra year’s option to every player’s contract .

Cork manager John Caulfield has been a particular fan of exploiting short term deals here, having signed a large number of former Rovers players following successful first seasons at the Showgrounds.

The addition of a further year’s option has played a vital role in holding on to both Kyle Callan-McFadden and Rhys McCabe. Two key players from the 2017 squad.

Ger continues: “If you look at the players we’ve signed, we’ve put an extra year option in their contracts because we want to grow something here instead of having to put together a new squad every winter.”

“We try to have the option of nailing down every player for more than one year. I would rather not have a player here for one year and then lose him to a Dundalk, Shams or Cork or whoever.

“Let’s be honest, it’s happened here a lot over the last few years where Rovers have had a player enjoy a great season and they’re off to another club in November. So we want to have more control over a player if we have developed them here.”

Getting the mix right and assembling a squad capable of achieving his targets is an exact science for Lyttle. The 40-year-old inherited a weak, unbalanced squad from his predecessor but managed to keep Rovers safe on the last day of the season thanks to few shrewd summer signings. And he is under no illusions where a squad incapable of reaching those targets will land him.

“I’m not happy where we are now. When I came in here last season it was difficult. There was a lot wrong in terms of the squad. So for me, it’s crucial the recruitment is spot on. Because if it’s not - it gets you the sack.”

The January market can be a happy hunting ground for plenty of League of Ireland managers. With a wealth of players released by UK clubs, many of whom are Irish, managers here who are quick on the draw can pick up a bargain.

“We’re looking in England and Scotland. It’s tricky to get players from the north because players are more likely to remain under contract. But you’ll have some players in England and Scotland who will be surplus to requirement in January.

“We’ll also look further into Europe and over to America if required. If we feel the player fits, then we’ll work to get him in.”

One avenue Lyttle is looking to avoid if possible is the loan system. Dave Robertson put his faith in this market last year having failed to land a proven goal-scorer on a permanent deal. But loanees Jonah Ayunga (Brighton) and Mathew Stevens (Peterborough) each failed to meet the requirement over the few months both players spent in the north west.

Lyttle says he won’t totally ignore the loan option, but he says the deal must be right for the club.

“Ideally you want a full season”, Ger explains. “I’m not saying I’ll never do it but I’m not a fan of bringing young players over from England and developing them for other clubs when you’ve got your own here like Gary Boylan, Jack Keaney, Ed McGinty and there’s more coming through the 17s and 19s that we’ll look to develop.

“That’s not to say we won’t look at loans. If they’re good enough and they’re capable of playing first team football in the League of Ireland then brilliant. But they must be as good if not better than what we have here already.”

One player Lyttle has managed to keep hold of is young defender Boylan. The club rejected an offer from Cork during the summer, while Shamrock Rovers were also keen to land the Mayo native.

On Boylan’s signature, Lyttle lauded: “We’re delighted to have a player of Gary’s calibre back. He’s a young player who I have high regard for not only for his football ability but also for his attitude which is second to none. I could tell Gary to go play in goal and he’ll do it.

“He wants to become a better footballer and it’s important that we held on to him here because we’ve developed him through the years.

“We’ve had some so-called bigger clubs come and try and take him away so I’m really pleased the club have stood their ground and made sure Gary’s here for another year.”

Boylan has admitted his preferred position to be in the middle of the park. But with other players already signed for those spots, the Belmullet man may have to make do with a defensive role.

Despite Boylan’s youth, Ger feels next season is the year his player needs to nail down a permanent position: “I think this year it’s very important that he finds a position, works at it and gets a bit of consistency within his game. At the minute we don’t have a right back, Gary slots in there.

“Offensively he’s excellent, he has two good feet and a great turn of pace. Maybe he needs to work a little on his defensive play. His concentration levels were a little low last season in terms of him switching off easily but to be fair to Gary I think that could be down to him not playing in the same position every week. But certainly he has the potential to be a drop-drawer full back or midfielder.”

In terms of further recruitment, Lyttle is hoping to have more good news for Rovers supporters as the new year nears.

“I’m working on one or two more and if I can get them over the line this week, brilliant. If I can’t, it’ll be next week or the week after. We haven’t had much luck in the market this month but that’s the way it is and we have to deal with it and move on. But there are irons in the fire.”