Derry City boss Declan Devine welcomes decision to delay season

The Derry City boss believes it’s a ‘common sense’ decision by the association’s National League Executive which could potentially allow for the return of fans to the terraces for part of the 2021 league campaign once lockdown measures are reduced.

Derry City plan to begin pre-season training early in February which will give them six or seven weeks to get ready for the new season and Devine believes that time frame is more than adequate.

Last weekend’s decision to delay the start of the season from February 26th until March 19th didn’t come as a surprise given the sharp rise of Covid-19 cases but it does raise financial concerns for players who are not under 52 week contracts.

While the prolonged close season brings about uncertainty for players, PFAI General Secretary, Stephen McGuinness this week said the change in schedule won’t affect players as their contracts don’t change, just the dates.

“Some players’ contracts were due to start on Monday but, because training has been pushed back by three weeks, it has been delayed with the contract extended by three weeks at the back end,” he said.

“The contract doesn’t change, just the dates. Around the league, everyone is different. Some are on 52-week deals so it didn’t change, some on 42-week or 30.”

And City boss, Declan Devine insists his players certainly don’t have to be concerned about their contracts not being fulfilled.

“Derry City Football Club has honoured every single contract it’s ever had,” said Devine. “Last year we were one of the few clubs that continued to pay our players their full wages throughout the pandemic when other clubs were very quick to stop paying players.

“So the one thing I would say that is guaranteed is if you’re going to sign for this football club, then you will get every penny that’s owed to you.

“They are only delaying the league by, potentially, two or three weeks which is great and I welcome that as it gives us a bit of time to (a) get supporters back into the ground hopefully and (b) ensure the players’ health is well looked after and we’re not in a situation where we have to go into lockdown for two or three weeks again and try and prepare for games.

“That was an absolute disaster at the end of last season where we had three games to play and one day’s training before each game.

“Medically it’s the right decision to push it back a couple of weeks. From our point of view, we welcome that there’s a bit of common sense in the decision and we will take our guidance from the health agencies.

“However, a two or three week push back is welcome in the sense of trying to get a sense of normality and hopefully we get the vaccines out as quickly as possible and we can potentially get over this.

“It’s a really big hurdle at the minute with the number of cases so we have to plan to have a safe environment first and foremost and hopefully we have a sense of normality where the fans can come back for a chunk of the season at least.”

Devine, who continues to assemble his squad for the upcoming season, has as early as possible in February to return to pre-season training, although he’s taking nothing for granted.

“I’m just going off the recommendations and potentially training can start early in February which again gives you six or seven weeks leading into March 19th which is more than adequate.

“That’s what we intend to work off anyway but at the same time, no one has a crystal ball to say that this will clear up and everything will be great.

“We’re all very much on the same page and hopefully the cases have dropped by the start of February and that we will be able to get back training and playing again.”