Declan Devine calls on FAI to 'police' quarantine rules on new signings from outside 'green list'

Derry City boss, Declan Devine and assistant manager, Kevin Deery alongside new signing, Jake Dunwoody who has been unable to play for his new side until his 14 day quarantine period is completed.

The Derry City boss has called for clubs to provide travel documentation and proof that any new signings from outside the Irish government's 'green list' have been subjected to a 14 day quarantine period.

Devine was forced to reshuffle his squad for last Friday's league game against Sligo Rovers at Brandywell after a letter from the FAI, less than 24 hours earlier, warned that any club found breaching its Covid-19 protocols would be subject to disciplinary action.

In order to comply with the FAI's Safer Return to Football guidelines, Devine was forced to drop four of his five new signings arriving from England from the squad despite the game taking place at Brandywell, outside the Irish government's jurisdiction

Sligo Rovers' new signing, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe has also been forced to delay his debut due to HSE and Irish Government guidelines and Devine said that he hoped all clubs were adhering to the rules.

"Everybody that said the players are in the country for as long as they are, I hope they are able to prove it because we can and I know Sligo can," said the Derry boss.

"So I hope everybody is playing players who can prove when they came into the country.

"I hope it will be policed because we're policing our dressing room. We've got documentation from when everybody came into the country.

"If you're booking a flight or a boat now into Ireland you have to get a receipt. We have receipts from when our players came in so hopefully everybody can do the same."

Derry's were able to field new signing, James Akintunde for the first time in the 2-0 win against St Pat's at Richmond Park on Monday night after the former Maidenhead striker completed his two week self-isolation period.

And Devine expects to have some of his other new signings available for Sunday's home meeting with league leaders, Shamrock Rovers on Sunday.

"I hope so," he said. "I'm not going to tell you who but I hope so. I just hope all the teams are quarantining their players. I hope that there's a level playing field."