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Derry are moving towards being a competitive team every season, claims manager Devine

Excited boss setting Candystripes high aims for the new campaign

Missing piece: Declan Devine is eager to get the fans back to stadiums

Eoin Wilson

March 20 2021 11:00 AM

Declan Devine believes that Derry City can get back into a position to challenge for trophies every year, after some positive changes behind the scenes in the last few months.

The Candystripes kick off a brand new season at Longford Town today, hoping to put the misery and disappointment of last year behind them, when they finished in a lowly seventh amid poor performances and results.

A new season has renewed optimism at the club, however, and the arrival of several new faces has brought a new energy ahead of the first game this evening.

Danny Lafferty has returned to the club after 10 years away, while David Parkhouse, such a hit in his debut season two years ago, will lead the attack once again after signing a three-year deal at the club.

Defender Danny Lupano has also returned on loan from Hull City, while exciting youngster Joe Hodge has arrived on a short-term deal from Manchester City.

Will Patching, Will Fitzgerald, Marc Walsh and Aaron Harkin have also come on board, while there have been professional deals given to academy youngsters Jack Lemoignan, Ronan Boyce and Patrick Ferry.

Nathan Gartside, who this week received his first call-up into the senior Northern Ireland squad, is the new No.1 at the club following the departure of experienced goalkeeper Peter Cherrie.

It all adds up to an exciting time for Derry City fans, who will continue to watch on from their own homes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and boss Devine is determined to give the supporters something to shout about this time around.

Asked whether he would like to have a trophy in his hands or a stadium full of fans come the end of the 2021 season, Devine didn't hesitate.

"Easily a stadium full of fans," he insisted. "Football is **** without fans. It is ****. It is basically rubbish without fans.

"For me, it misses its soul, and we need the soul back and the soul for us is 4,500 fans and this place full.

"That's just the best thing ever and hopefully we can uphold our side of the bargain and win enough games so that whenever it is open to the fans, they have something they can come back to."

Derry City's methods have been erratic and inconsistent in recent years, with the club signing well over 80 players since 2015. That could well be a thing of the past, however, after recent changes at the club.

"The positive from the off-season this year has been a better outlook in terms of where we can go," Devine explained.

"Derry City, over the course of the last 10 or 12 years, have finished in the bottom half more than they have finished in the top half.

"We've won five FAI Cups and two Premier Division titles in our history, and it's not enough.

"We have to understand that we have to put stuff in place that will enable us to get back to where we belong, without taking away the fact that we have got to win football matches."

Derry City begin the new season today in Longford, against a newly-promoted team which will test just how hungry this new-look Candystripes team really is.

"It's going to be extremely difficult," Devine agreed.

"Longford have been fighting for years to get into the Premier Division. I'm delighted to see them back because I think it's a brilliant club and a brilliant area of Ireland that needs senior football.

"They have a really up and coming manager who has done a fantastic job there.

"We know going to Longford, especially for their first game in the Premier Division, that they fought so hard to get into, the people of Longford will be watching online and they will be looking to hit the ground running."

CANDYSTRIPES AT A GLANCE

IN: Danny Lafferty (S Rovers), Joe Hodge (Manchester C, loan), Will Fitzgerald (Waterford), Will Patching (Dundalk, loan), Marc Walsh, Aaron Harkin (free), Michael Glynn (Ballinamallard).

OUT: Ally Gilchrist, Gerardo Bruna (Shels), Conor Clifford (Bray), Walter Figueira, Colm Horgan (Sligo), Conor McCormack (Galway U), Peter Cherrie (Dundalk), Ibrahim Meite (free), Stephen Mallon (loan ended), Jake Dunwoody (HIJK Finland).

MANAGER: Declan Devine (3rd full season)

LAST SEASON: 7th

ONE TO WATCH: Ronan Boyce

PROSPECTS: The 2020 season was a very forgettable one for Derry with early exits in the Cup and Europe, while they finished just one point above the relegation zone. Too many inferior signings and the loss of a local focus last term means that better is demanded. Loanee Joe Hodge could be sensational, once he's fit.

Derry are moving towards being a competitive team every season, claims manager Devine

Excited boss setting Candystripes high aims for the new campaign

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