Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan is busy preparing for life in the Premier Division with his squad. Here are five things at the top of his Christmas wish list
1 A new assistant manager
JAMES GALLAGHER dropped something of a bombshell last week when he confirmed that he was unable, due to personal reasons, to continue in the role of Ollie Horgan’s assistant manager at Finn Park.
To some, the departure of the assistant manager wouldn’t bat the eyelids, but Gallagher’s standing within the confines of the Harps dressing room meant that his exit felt like a hammer blow.
One Harps player this week reckoned that the dynamic of Gallagher’s partnership with Horgan was one of the main reasons that Harps won promotion and that he’d rather have seen one of the better players leave the set-up than Gallagher.
A former Harps manager, Gallagher brought vast knowledge and expertise to the role.
Horgan could decide to promote from within with Declan Boyle, the current Harps Under-17 manager, seen as one possible replacement.
2 A kind fixture list
THE fixtures for the 2016 SSE Airtricity League are expected to be released next week, but it’s hard to know just what an ideal start would consist of for Harps.
Harps can expect a big gate for whomever comes to Ballybofey for the first home game of the season and it would certainly be ideal for Horgan’s men to be at home on the first evening of the campaign.
A nightmare start would be to have the likes of Dundalk, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers to begin with.
The task will be daunting whatever the sequence, but Harps will be hoping that the Football Association of Ireland’s fixtures computer will be a little kind for what will be their first foray in the top flight since 2008.
An opening night derby against Derry City, live on RTE, anyone?
3 Some reinforcements
HARPS operated off a threadbare squad in 2015 and, overall, were quite fortunate when it came to injuries and suspension, though there was no masking the fact that Horgan had a skeleton panel. The arrival of man-of-the-moment BJ Banda and Gareth Doherty, both from the club’s under-19 set-up, was owing to a lack of personnel.
Horgan has started the recruitment process well with Ryan McConnell and Ryan Curran added to nine of last year’s panel in committing for next season.
The demands of the Premier Division will be such that Harps can expect a greater toll to be taken on their squad next season.
Of the 27 players used by Harps in 2015, four made just one appearance and ten players who featured on match cards weren’t around for that final, epic night of the season when they secured promotion against Limerick FC.
Reinforcements will be required, though it is not expected that any further announcements on signings will be coming out of Finn Park this side of Christmas.
4 A new deal for Damien McNulty
THE rugged Damien McNulty will have been one of the players from the 2015 squad Harps fans would have jotted down as a ‘definite’ when the question arose about who, among their ranks, would be comfortable in the Premier Division.
The capture of the Derry native was one of the better pieces of business of Peter Hutton’s era as manager. He has been one of Harps’ most consistent performers and Horgan’s side really suffered anytime McNulty was absent in 2015.
He has yet to put pen to paper on a new contract at Finn Park and supporters are anxiously awaiting news of his signature.
He’s one of the few players who could be courted by potential suitors with Derry City and Coleraine known to be admirers of the Creggan man.
McNulty’s signature in the coming weeks would represent a huge boost to Horgan and Harps.
5 More options in attack
THE signing of Ryan Curran from Derry City ignites some new life into a Harps attack that, following the departure of Ruairi Keating back to Sligo Rovers in June, didn’t quite catch fire.
Harps did manage to conjure up the goals to get them promoted, but there remains the feeling that they’ll need a dozen-goals-a-season striker if they’re to stay up next season.
While Kevin McHugh’s prowess in the penalty box remains sharp, the Killea man will be 36 by the time the new season kicks off and it would be unfair to have the burden solely upon his shoulders.
Wilfried Tagbo, although an affectionate character who gave his all, is not the goalscorer Harps supporters had hoped and BJ Banda’s talents are, as yet, unrefined and he remains a player with a lot to learn before he can be considered as a first team regular.
The same, though, could be true of Curran, who has shown plenty of promise when he’s got his nose in at Derry and a run of regular games could be the makings of him.
It remains an if, but and maybe type scenario though and the Harps squad could do with the injection of a proven Premier-calibre player, although Horgan’s budget is likely to mean the list of possibilities isn’t a particularly long one.
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