Author: Kieran Burke – @Kieran_b_sport
Sources within Drogheda United Football Club have confirmed to BetweenTheStripes.net that as of this moment in time there has been no official approach made by Dundalk FC or any other club for manager Tim Clancy. Reports began to emerge late last night in the Irish Examiner that the new owners of Dundalk FC had made the former Kilmarnock and Hibernian defender Clancy their number one target to replace Vinny Perth, whose contract is set to expire at Oriel Park this week. However, sources at Head In The Game Park have since responded to say such reports have “no foundation” and no official contact has been forthcoming from their local rivals at this point in time.
Drogheda United chairman Conor Hoey has often spoken of his admiration for the job performed by Clancy since he was appointed first-team manager in December 2017 and of his belief that the Trim man will go on to manage at a higher level in the future. Speaking on S4EP20 of Between the Stripes LOI podcast in October 2020, Hoey stated he would never stand in the way of Clancy moving on to pastures new should an opportunity arise.
“If Tim ever got approached by another club or he wanted to leave he’d go with a glowing reference from me. He’s destined for greater things, someday Tim will be managing in Scotland or England, I’ve no doubt about it”, remarked Hoey who’s words could now be put to the test should Dundalk decide to make an official approach for his first-team boss.
Having only signed a new two-year deal with the Boynesiders in July, any deal that would take Tim Clancy to Oriel Park may not prove to be a straightforward one for Dundalk’s new locally-based owners while Clancy’s long-time assistant Kevin Doherty also put pen-to-paper on a fresh two-year contract in the summer, which would be another equation the clubs would have to solve if Clancy wished to take his number two across the Louth divide.
Delivering a First Division title in 2020 before overseeing a stellar first season back in the top-flight this campaign in which the Drogs finished seventh, naturally, Drogheda United fans have reacted with worry and dread to the news that their commander in chief could be set for a switch to their bitter local rivals.
However, in more positive news for United followers, sources close to BbetweenTheStripes.net have indicated over the course of the weekend that departing Finn Harps striker Adam Foley could be on his way to Head In The Game Park this winter after attempts to bring the former Newry Town centre-forward to the club in the summer window failed to materialise.
It’s believed the player was keen to make the switch in the summer with current Drogheda boss Tim Clancy believed to be a big admirer of Foley’s talents but understandably Finn Harps supremo Ollie Horgan was not keen to see one of his top attacking threats move to a potential relegation rival at such a crucial stage of the season.
Thirty-one-year-old Foley emerged as one of the early surprise packages of the 2021 season by netting four goals in the opening four league matches while crucial strikes against Derry City, Waterford, and Shamrock Rovers prior to the mid-season break saw Foley’s name up in lights across the League of Ireland.
However, Foley would play a less central role after the mid-season break with the Dublin native often having to either play out wide or come from off the bench with summer signing from the UK Tunde Owolabi seeming to gain the favour of manager Ollie Horgan. As a result, Foley would end the season with just the eight goals in 33 Premier Division appearances with the last of those league goals coming all the way back in June in a 2-2 draw with St.Patrick’s Athletic.
Interestingly, Foley did not feature despite being named on the bench for Friday’s stunning 5-0 home success against Longford Town, a result that secured the Donegal side’s top-flight status for 2022. In the hours that would follow, Foley announced his departure from Finn Park via social media but it now remains to be seen where the future of the striker lies given the ongoing speculation linking Drogheda United manager Tim Clancy with a switch to the Oriel Park hotseat.
https://twitter.com/AdFoley19/status/1462366784921690117
