Utd set to lose better players unless gates improve

Date Published: {J}

Darragh McDonagh

INCREASED turnouts at Terryland Park are vital if Galway United is to rebuff interest in a number of key players from clubs in England, according to manager Sean Connor.

He told Tribune Sport yesterday that weekly gates in excess of 1,000 were necessary if the advances of British clubs in star players were to be resisted.

“There has been interest shown in a number of players and we have been contacted by a number of clubs from outside the league, although there has yet to be any definite offers,” he said.

“Finances being the way that they are, we are facing the prospect of losing some key players. But if we can turn things around we’ll be in with a chance of keeping them, and bigger gates are key to that.

“We need to see an improvement to allow us to hang onto players,” said Connor. “Shamrock Rovers are getting gates of 3,000, Dundalk get around 2,000. I don’t think we can ever hope to reach those figures, but just to get over 1,000 on a regular basis would make a big difference.”

He said that the interest from abroad was a sign that players had been performing well and he moved to reassure fans that the club was actively pursuing a list of players should anyone be poached by an English outfit.

Connor’s charges make the journey to Morton Stadium to face Sporting Fingal tomorrow (Saturday) in the midst of another goalkeeping crisis. Barry Ryan is suspended for the match, leaving United to sweat on the fitness of reserve ‘keeper Daragh Geraghty, who is returning from injury.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.