2023 Rumours | Transfers | Contract Renewals

[oldfogey]

Time start a new thread for next year.

I'm sure someone else has been keeping track of the squad in terms of contracts etc, so I will leave them to create and maintain a list.

[niall_hearty2000]

Of the current squad who is in contract who is out of contract? Who do we keep? Who do we offer contracts to?

Nathan Shepperd.. we have another years option. I would be going in with a new contract 3 yr deal let's see where we are after that. He is our most important signing imho. Need to get it tied down before RVs come sniffing about.

Lewis Macari. Returning to Stoke. I'd look to get him back. Had the makings of a solid LoI defender. Is versatile can play right back or CB and surely the lure of European Football sits better with him and Stoke than another loan to say a league 2 side?

Brian Gartland. Legend at the club, but missed most of the season. Keep on as a coach perhaps but definitely time to release.

Andy Boyle. Contract up. I'd offer another contract. Wasn't his best season but put his body on the line every week. I'd offer reduced terms.

Alfie Lewis still in contract.

Sam Bone. I imagine still in contract?

Daniel Kelly. Still in contract.

Robbie Benson. Not sure if in contract. Didn't set world on fire this season. Plagued with injuries though and went through the pain barrier for club. Not the Robbie Benson of old. Not sure if I'd offer a new contract if he is out of contract .

Patrick Hoban. Still in contract. Best striker we have and inching closer to Joey Donnelly's club record. Badly missed this season.

Greg Sloggett. Not sure if contract up. But I would sign him back again.

John Martin. Started off brightly. Prob still in contract but failed to deliver. If not in contract I'd probably not renew.

Peter Cherrie. Good back up as number 2. I'd keep unless cheaper option avail.

Darragh Leahy. Not sure on contract. Is he one of those players who is easy going and effective or not quite cutting it? Not sure either way really.

Steven Bradley. Will return to hibs. Has talent, not sure he will make it as an SPL player though. Would he be worth another punt next season?

Keith Ward. Not sure on contract? I'd offer Wardy a new deal. Gives 100% and has an eye for a pass. And great coming off the bench.

Robbie McCourt. I would imagine is signed on for next season. In the limited game time he has had, I would be releasing.

Joe Adams. Signed up for next season. Blows very hot and cold. Needs to up his game next season.

Paul Doyle. I imagine again another player here next season. Badly missed at the business end of the season.

Runar Hauge. Going back to Hibs. Would be a decent squad player imho. If the price was right.

John Mountney. I would expect was given a two yrs deal. Good player who missed most of the season through injury. Big season coming up for him.

Ryan O'Kane. Signed up for next two yrs. Has been a breath of fresh air to the side.

David McMillan. Club legend. Leading Irish scorer in European Competition. Has won it all with the club. When he was good he was very good. The goal at home v Rosenborg the cup final winning hattrick v RVs. The free kick last night to qualify us for Europe again next season. Unfortunately all great things come to a natural end. Release.

Who do we bring in? More loan signings? That offers no continuity imho. Patterson from Waterford? But would stay with Waterford if they go up

[Towelie]

We need a center half (or two) without a doubt. I can't think of one in the league that's with a team below us in the table off the top of my head. A hungry free agent looking to establish himself might be the best place to look.

Also need to replace Davy presuming that he leaves, I think he'd do really well if he went to the likes of a bohs or Sligo(if they lose Keena to rovers).

Need more cover on the flanks as well, both at full back and on the wing. O'Kane has the left side nailed down I think.

[Richie87]

Nando Pijnaker has done well at centre back for Sligo. He's on loan from a Portuguese team, Rio Ave. Sligo will probaly be looking to make it permanent.

[mike]

Sloggett is signed to end of 2023 at min, not sure on Leahy.

Some more bits here:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer ... 04173.html

[Richie87]

Fleetwood would probaly have first refusal on any potential Waterford players .The owner owns both Clubs. https://www.the42.ie/andy-pilley-waterf ... 0-Aug2022/

[superman]

According to the Dan McDonnell newsletter:

Phoenix Patterson to Rovers not so likely to happen. New Waterford owners aren't keen to sell... Maybe that will be different if Waterford don't get promoted, however.

Both Rovers and Derry are interested in signing Aidan Keena from Sligo, but might have to break the leagues transfer record to do so. But this is also somewhat unlikely to happen. From other sources, Keena has a lower release fee for British teams.

Paddy Kirk to Derry or Rovers. Adam McDonnell to Bohs or Shels.... Both also with Sligo

Aaron Greene leaving Rovers, probably be replaced by Liam Burt from Bohs.

[Richie87]

If Rovers were to show ambition they would be looking outside the League. They need better quality in Europe. Lyons has 7 League goals and 1 in Europe. That's not easy replaced.

[seand]

If Rovers were to show ambition they would be looking outside the League. They need better quality in Europe. Lyons has 7 League goals and 1 in Europe. That's not easy replaced.

Hmm, I have memories of the last all-conquering League of Ireland team to go down that road!

[Towelie]

Could see Leahy leaving, could be the shock departure of the window and then we'll need to scramble to find a replacement. Hope I'm completely wrong but he only signed a deal until the end of this season. St Mirren were sniffing about after him last year.

Apart from that I think the only other departures will be the loanees.

[Towelie]

Could see Leahy leaving, could be the shock departure of the window and then we'll need to scramble to find a replacement. Hope I'm completely wrong but he only signed a deal until the end of this season. St Mirren were sniffing about after him last year.

Apart from that I think the only other departures will be the loanees(and probably Garts and Davy)

[oldfogey]

Could see Leahy leaving, could be the shock departure of the window and then we'll need to scramble to find a replacement. Hope I'm completely wrong but he only signed a deal until the end of this season. St Mirren were sniffing about after him last year.

Apart from that I think the only other departures will be the loanees.

Leahy is one of the first names on the teamsheet and has been working well with O'Kane and Kelly. I can't imagine him going to another LOI side unless purely for money and it's Rovers. If it was a one year deal it was down to an agent who maintained that they'll get him a cross channel move at the end of the season with a bigger signing on fee(as a free agent). The last thing O'Donnell needs is having to replace another defender, especially a leftie. (I would have said citóg, but apparently it is seen as a derogatory term in some circles).

[superman]

Happy to see Paddy Kirk linked to Rovers and not Leahy. He is a must-keep if we want to build on this year.

[Richie87]

If Rovers were to show ambition they would be looking outside the League. They need better quality in Europe. Lyons has 7 League goals and 1 in Europe. That's not easy replaced.

Hmm, I have memories of the last all-conquering League of Ireland team to go down that road!

Dundalk brought in 8 or 9 from outside the league from all over the Globe, that wasn't going to work. But 2 or 3 gems from abroad could make a differece. Rovers played the Macedonian team Shkupi and they had a few quality Brazilians. No doubt on good wages but that's the type of player they could so with.

Joey N'do was quality with Shelbourne when they went on that run in Europe in 04.

[seand]

If Rovers were to show ambition they would be looking outside the League. They need better quality in Europe. Lyons has 7 League goals and 1 in Europe. That's not easy replaced.

Hmm, I have memories of the last all-conquering League of Ireland team to go down that road!

Dundalk brought in 8 or 9 from outside the league from all over the Globe, that wasn't going to work. But 2 or 3 gems from abroad could make a differece. Rovers played the Macedonian team Shkupi and they had a few quality Brazilians. No doubt on good wages but that's the type of player they could so with.

Joey N'do was quality with Shelbourne when they went on that run in Europe in 04.

yeh my response was tongue-in-cheek... if we'd brought in say Jurkovskis and one or two others, under a competent manager and not let some of the best players in the league go it might have been a different story