Deal to bring Alan Reynolds back to the Brandywell now in doubt

The deal to bring Alan Reynolds back to the Brandywell is now in serious doubt, DerryNow can reveal.

Earlier this week, Derry City announced, after months of speculation, that assistant manager Paddy McLaughlin had left the club by mutual consent. But hopes that they would be able to name Reynolds as replacement have hit a roadblock with other names now being considered as number two to Ruaidhri Higgins.

The new league season kicks in just eight days when Derry City host Drogheda United at the Brandywell, with Higgins hoping to have a new assistant in place. And while that may still be the case, it is understood that it will now unlikely to be Alan Reynolds.

Meanwhile, club captain Patrick McEleney believes the 2024 League of Ireland will be the toughest to win in a number of years due to the quality and ambition of so many teams in the Premier Division.

The Derry City captain, who was in attendance at the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland 2024 season launch in Dublin yesterday, is hoping to be the first man since Peter Hutton in 1997 to lift the league title with the Candystripes.

With expectation high following two second place finishes and the additions since of Dan Kelly and Pat Hoban from Dundalk, McEleney knows the pressure is higher than ever for Derry City to deliver a league title for the first time in 27 years.

"I said it from the first day I came in that I was here to try and win things," he said. "Maybe winning the cup in the first year killed us a bit. it was obviously amazing and we came second in the league, but everything was just expected then; "This is us, we're here, we've made it". But it's not the case.

"Everybody has spent money, all of them, and just because we bring in good players doesn't mean we're going to rock up and topple Rovers who have been there for years and years. When you play for Derry, there is a demand now to win things, and there has been now for years so that won't change."

The addition of both Kelly and Hoban means that there are now several players with title-winning experience at the Brandywell, with McEleney, Michael Duffy and Cameron Dummigan also winning the the title with Dundalk. That experience, plus a good team environment could be key ingredients for City heading into this new season.

ALMOST TIME... Derry City captain Patrick McEleney at the launch of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland 2024 season held at Vicar Street in Dublin. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

"Adding Dan Kelly and Pat, there's no doubt, they have been there and done it as well, so the standards have been raised a wee bit, but I can only speak from my time here and it's brilliant changing room. I can't fault effort ever, be it in the changing room, or in training, at no time. Sometimes it just comes down to a break of the ball or that killer instinct."

Favourites

Derry City are the favourites to push Shamrock Rovers the closest this season, with the Dublin side aiming for an historic fifth title in a row. McEleney admits that it will need a formidable effort from everyone at Derry to catch the champions.

"They have kept everybody and they have added quality," he explained. "People think that Derry should just rock up and win the league, but that's not going to happen. They are a well-oiled machine and they are not going to hit the off button. There is no off button.

"It's just whether we can go above them in the sense of everything. You have to be at it, you have to win the big games, you have to take the big moments when they come, but they are not going anywhere, and Pat's and everybody else have strengthened as well. It's probably the toughest league in a long, long time."

Fans Forum

Meanwhile, Derry City have announced that they will host a Fans Forum at the City Hotel, next Saturday, February 17.

Chairman Philip O'Doherty, manager Ruaidhri Higgins and players will be in attendance for the event, which will begin at 12pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.