As we get set to enter the New Year it has been another busy week in terms of the transfer market in the SSE Airtricity League. Derry City have been one of the busiest clubs with players coming in and out.
They announced that they had agreed a swap deal with NIFL Premiership side Coleraine FC that will see them sign Ciaron Harkin while Ben Doherty will go in the other direction. Nicky Low is returning to Scotland and he will sign for Championship side Queen of the South tomorrow. Patrick McClean is due to make his return to his hometown club.
Sligo Rovers announced that they had agreed to a transfer fee with their North West neighbours for the player. As McClean waits for his departure to be rubber-stamped another player who has left the Showgrounds is midfielder Lee Lynch. He has signed for high flying NIFL Championship side Larne FC thus ending his second spell with Rovers.
Lynch is a real energetic midfielder and will be a real asset to Larne and will be missed by Rovers supporters. One other player leaving the North West is Mark Hannon. The young defender has left Finn Harps and signed for First Division side Galway United. It is expected to be a big week for Dundalk as the champions are expected to be naming their new manager. It has been heavily rumoured that their former manager John Gill will be returning to the club where he will be effectively a Director of Football with Vinny Perth the head coach. Perth had been Stephen Kenny’s assistant but as he doesn’t have the UEFA Pro Licence he wasn’t able to be named as Kenny’s direct successor.
They brought in winger Daniel Kelly during the week as he signed from Bohemian FC where he had impressed since his move from Bray Wanderers. He could be seen as a replacement for another former Bray player Dylan Connolly who is being linked with a potential transfer to English League One side AFC Wimbledon. Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey has also joined making the short journey across the border from Warrenpoint Town.
Talented youngster Carlton Ubaezuono has left Oriel Park as he signed for Longford Town in the First Division. Bohemian continued with their policy of bringing in players with real potential as they signed right-back Luke Wade-Slater who had been with English League Two side Stevenage Boro. The 20-year-old had been on loan with Southern League Premier side Kings Langley.
