ARTHUR DUFFY reports

Indeed, the Scottish Premier League club is hopeful of concluding negotiations over the next few days with the 21-years-old Dubliner expected to travel to Rugby Park to spend a few days later this week.
Jeffries was at Windsor Park to watch Linfield entertain Croatia Zagreb in the recent 2-0 Champions' League preliminary round defeat to cast his eye over Thompson, but when the Belfast man opted to sign for Stockport County, the 'Killie' boss is believed to have made an immediate approach to the powers that be at Brandywell.

It's understood that Kilmarnock's new signing from Airdrie, striker Allan Russell, was forced to fly home from their training camp in Italy having hurt a knee in a practice match following an awkward fall and that injury will keep the player out of competitive action for at least 10 weeks having ruptured medial knee ligaments forcing the club to act fast and bring in another front man.

And Jefferies admitted it was now imperative that he adds some firepower to his squad following Russell's untimely injury.
He said: "It is important that we bring in a new striker after Allan's injury. We have made a few enquiries and are waiting to get responses from those approached and see what develops."

No-one at the Brandywell was prepared to confirm or deny the news last night, but sources close to the SPL club insist that contact has already been made with Derry City, so much so that the player is expected to spend two or three days in the Scottish city before this weekend!

Sammon, purchased by the 'Candy Stripes' for E20,000 from UCD at the start of the season, continues to compete for a regular first team place at the Brandywell but with Sammy Morrow having made a return to active service last Friday night not to mention the recent signing of Linfield's Thomas Stewart, the Dubliner faces an additional challenge for a regular first team place.

While the transfer has yet to be ratified, much will depend on the player's impression at Rugby Park where he's expected to take part in training and practice games before a decision will be made on his future.

Derry City have refused to comment publicly on the matter, but it is known that the Board of Directors will discuss a possible fee with Kilmarnock over the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, other news on the Brandywell front has seen reserve team goalkeeper, Eugene Ferry and midfielder, Gareth Harkin, leave the 'Candy Stripes.'

Ferry will travel to Manchester to attend University in an attempt to follow a career as a P.E. teacher while Letterkenny lad, Harkin, has opted to join Irish League club, Coleraine, in an effort to secure first team football at senior level.


The fact that Derry City boasted what can only be described as a particularly 'strong bench' for last Friday night's game against Bohemians, hasn't gone unnoticed by Brandywell boss, Stephen Kenny.

And the Dubliner agreed that the future looked bright with both Sammy Morrow and Sean Hargan - who played against Dungannon Swifts last night at Stangmore Park - having returned to competitive action.
"When I returned at the start of the season players such as Mark McChrystal, Sammy Morrow, Sean Hargan and Kevin Deery were considered long term injuries not to mention the players that had left the club.

"Colm O'Neill has worked very hard and now, for the first time, we have almost everyone fit which gives us options and serious competition for places," smiled the Derry boss.
He also insisted that the return of such players was vital as the eircom League season enters its final third.

"We will have games coming at us thick and fast as we're still involved in all four competitions and we'll need every player to help us through our League, League Cup, FAI Cup and Setanta Cup campaigns," he added.

"We look like a team that is capable of giving other teams no shortage of problems. Niall McGinn is clearly relishing the freedom of playing all over the place, he's been causing havoc and that's great. We've got a lot of places in the front line which is also great and while we did miss quite a few chances against Bohemians which was disappointing, we know we should have put them away.

"The team is bigger than any individual player and I feel this team is getting very exciting to watch," he concluded.