Derry City interim manager Mark Connolly has confirmed he will not be making changes to his squad for the final stretch of the season. The decision comes as veteran winger James McClean remains absent from the team's plans following a public contract dispute earlier in the year.
Connolly, who took over as interim boss in August, stated his commitment to the group that has lifted the club to fourth in the Premier Division. "We're sticking to the same squad we have," Connolly said. His immediate focus is on securing the best possible league position, with Derry City currently on 41 points after 32 games.
James McClean has not featured in a starting line-up since July. The 37-year-old Republic of Ireland centurion, who returned to the club in January, was at the centre of a high-profile fall-out in August when an attempt was made to terminate his contract. Connolly described the subsequent media attention as a "learning curve" but has moved forward with the players available to him.
The squad has responded positively, going unbeaten in their last five league matches. That run includes a 1-0 victory over Galway United last Friday, secured by a late Adam O'Reilly goal. They followed that with a 2-2 draw away to Waterford and a 1-0 win at Shelbourne. This form has solidified their place in the top half of the table, though they trail league leaders St Patrick's Athletic by 18 points.
Connolly's primary aim is to finish as high as possible in the league. Beyond that, a major incentive is delivering a memorable day for the supporters. Derry City are set to face Galway United again in October, this time in the FAI Cup semi-final at the Aviva Stadium. "It's been a long season and tough for a lot of fans this year," Connolly noted. "If we could get them a day out to the Aviva - it would be huge."
The interim boss, a former Derry City player who helped the club win the 2020 FAI Cup, is not looking beyond his current role. He said he is not even thinking about his managerial future and wants to leave the club in a better place. His next challenge is a home match against league leaders St Patrick's Athletic on 9 October. The squad list for that game and the rest of the season is available on our squad page.
