The first team squad are currently in their first full week of pre-season, affording Roddy Collins the first chance to see some potential new signings in training. The squad, training at the Vale Centre in Greysteel, has seen the addition of new faces such as Enda Curran, James Gallagher, Danny Ventre and some of the other new recruits.
However the new manager has also invited a number of players to join the programme on a trial basis. Dean Jarvis, who signed last season from Institute is currently out of contract but has been present at the session, whilst trialists such Marvin Torvic and Mark Stewart have also added to the ranks, as the management team look to make further additions to the playing panel.
With less than a week to the first preseason game against Limavady United the new faces don’t have much time to impress the management duo and earn themselves a contract at the Brandywell. Collins, blessed with a squad that finished fourth in the Airtricity Premier Division last season spoke of the need for reinforcements for the coming season but was playing his cards close to his chess when asked to speak about the future of these trialists.
There have been further additions to the backroom staff as well, with Declan McIntyre joining as goalkeeping coach. McIntyre was part of Peter Hutton’s management team at Finn Harps and has followed the City legend back up the road from Ballybofey to join the brains trust off the field at the Brandywell. McIntyre will be well known to older Derry fans, who may remember him turning out for Finn Harps, Galways and Sligo in the League of Ireland. Indeed he had a brief spell with the Candystripes before hanging up his gloves in the mid 90s.
However McIntyre is also a vastly experienced coach, both at local and national level. As well as his involvement with Finn Harps season, Declan was reserve team manager at Finn Park back in the late 90s, a period which saw Finn Harps lift the Ulster Senior League amongst other honours. McIntyre’s talents have been recognised on the international stage and he has been involved in coaching in the underage set-ups for the last fifteen years under bosses such as Brian Kerr and Paul Doolin.
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