Derry City interim manager Mark Connolly has said he is “sticking to the same squad we have” when asked whether James McClean would be returning for any of the club’s upcoming fixtures.
The Creggan man, who returned to Derry City in January after a stint with Wrexham, has not featured in a starting line-up since July.
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Former Sunderland and Stoke player McClean, 37, had a high-profile fall-out with the club in August after an attempt was made to terminate his contract.
Connolly took over as interim boss just as the fall-out was unfolding publicly.
He described the media storm over McClean’s future at Derry City as a “learning curve.”
“It was something you’ll probably look back on in time but listen, it’s been fine”, he told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.
“We as a team have done really well – we’ve kicked on and kept the noise on the outside.
“The boys have dug in and stuck to the task we’ve asked of them.”
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When asked if McClean – who earned 103 Republic of Ireland caps between 2012 and 2023 – will be back, Connolly said:
“He’s not been involved in the squads, and we have a really strong squad.
“For us, it’s just sticking to the same squad that we have and that’s basically where it is.”
Connolly cuts a determined figure as interim manager who came in at the later stages of what has been a rocky season for the Candystripes.
The Clones-born defender started his professional career as a player at Bolton before spells at Crawley Town, Kilmarnock and Dundee United, where he won the Scottish Championship title in 2020.
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He joined Derry in 2022 following a loan stint at Dundalk and helped the club win that year’s FAI Cup.
When he retired from the game in June while with Coleraine, Derry City announced Connolly as director of football.
But when Tiernan Lynch departed in August after a difficult spell at the helm, Connolly found himself managing the team that he was, not that long ago, the captain of.
“It has been a whirlwind,” he said.
“Retiring from playing was sad and tough – you are having those discussions with the family about whether it is the right time.
“I could have played another year or two but the old saying ‘leave football before football leaves you’ was at the back of my mind.
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“And then the opportunity came to come back to a club that I have such a good bond with.
“It’s an amazing football club that I love.”
Connection with fans
One of the criticisms of Lynch’s time at the Brandywell was a perceived lack of connection between the manager, fans, and the wider community.
It is a connection that Connolly says he understands from his time as a Derry City player.
“Being a fan is definitely a way of life here,” he said.
“My family and I have lived in Derry for four years; we are fully part of the community.
“It’s a big city but tight knit. People tell when you’re doing great and when you’re not doing great.
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“But that’s just how people are here, and I love it. They are really passionate about the football club and passionate about their city.
“Derry people wear their heart on their sleeves – I would put myself in that bracket too.”
Connection may be one part of the job, results are another.
And the focus now, according to Connolly, is “finishing as high as we can in the league.”
His fight for that league revival was affirmed again on Friday night with a 1-0 home win against Galway United.
Both teams will meet again in October for the FAI Cup semi-final.
Having been to the Aviva Stadium twice as a Derry City player for FAI Cup finals, Connolly said he would love to give fans that experience again.
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“It’s been a long season and tough for a lot of fans this year. If we could get them a day out to the Aviva – it would be huge.
“The biggest thing for me is giving that hope back to the fans.
“It’s so important to keep pushing and driving and giving them opportunities to cheer, sing and be loud and proud.”
Connolly ‘not thinking’ about managerial future
Connolly said becoming a manager was an ambition but more as a long-term goal that would come “later on in years.”
Now that it has come quicker, would he be keen to take the job full-time?
“Right now, it’s about the day-to-day for me, I’m not even thinking about that,” he said.
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“I came in as director of football, I was asked to step in and help, and I’ve done that.
“If I got a call to say it’s not me anymore – I’ve no problem with that.
“As a player, whatever club I went into, I always tried to go in and leave that club in a better place. That’s my aim now.
“If I stay until the end of season or if someone else comes in, I just want to make sure I leave Derry City in a better place.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
