Pats unveil seven players
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There was pressure-tinged excitement in the air around Richmond Park yesterday afternoon as Saint Pat’s manager John McDonnell and Director Brian Kerr unveiled their seven new signings to the press. These signings represent a substantial cost to the club but Brian Kerr insists there will not be any adverse effects, “We have cut costs in other areas in order to make way for other investments and in fact we stood firm in a lot of cases and refused to give wage increases to players last season.”
But question marks remain in relation to the sustainability of such investment in terms of the progression of the eircom League into the future. “This is the first season we have invested like this. Drogheda and Bohs have both spend big in the last two or three seasons and they have gotten the results. This is the first time we have had an entirely full-time squad so we will just have to wait and see.” said manager John McDonnell
After an upcoming friendly against the Blackburn Rovers Reserves on Friday, the new look Saint Pat’s squad will and must begin to focus but there are still a few issues to be resolved. Dave Rogers is on the transfer list just two weeks after claiming this seasons captaincy, Glen Fitzpatrick is also out of favour and John McDonnell has indicated his preference for a new striker and it remains to be seen how well the new signings will perform when the going heat is on.
On the bright side, the new players seemed relaxed and prepared as they fielded questions from the eager hacks and posed for photo ops. “I’m just looking forward to getting back into playing again,” says Bobby Ryan, “We don’t feel too much pressure, we are professionals so we have to deal with it.” Joe O’Cearuill also seemed entirely focused on the season ahead, “I just wanted a change in my career. I was not getting on with the manager at Barnet and when the opportunity came to play for Pat’s, I have no second thoughts.”
In relation to Trappatoni’s appointment, Kerr expressed fears that the indigenous soccer leagues might be glazed over . “I don’t see him coming to see a derby between us and Bohs on a cold Friday evening. But we hope he will keep an eye on our league here and maybe have a look at some of our players for friendlies or as replacements.”
Pat’s kick off their season on March 7th against Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park.
