Derry City: We have a duty of care for the rest of the League of Ireland

The Candy Stripes made their return to collective training yesterday (Monday) with strict non-contact measures in place at their base at Aileach Football Club in Burnfoot.

Coronavirus tests were carried out on all players and staff prior to training and their temperatures were taken four times during the course of the day under the supervision of the club's designated Covid-19 compliance officer, Danny Meenan.

Devine insists the day went smoothly thanks to rigorous planning and organisation by the club over the past three weeks and the Creggan man believes Derry City must ensure everything is carried out according to the guidelines with the rest of the League of Ireland watching on.

"The FAI and the southern government have invested heavily for us to be part of this four team tournament in July," said Devine. "But I also think we should have a duty of care for all the rest of the players in the league that we uphold our side of the bargain.

"There's a lot of players in the League of Ireland not getting paid. There's a lot of players throughout the country looking over their shoulders to see what's happening with their careers.

"So as much as we are the guinea pigs we also have a duty to do things properly, stick to the guidelines and by hook or by crook we will try and make this thing work."

There were sanitising stations in place at the training ground and the team was split into two groups with the first group of 14 players plus one coach taking part in the first session and a further 10 players taking part in the second.

And Devine insists the success of the day was the result of a team effort.

"That's testament to the club because they've put a lot of different policies and procedures in place to make sure when the players turn up it's relatively easy for them.We know it's a difficult situation but it's just where we are at this moment in time.

"We're so, so grateful to get on a training pitch today, even for our own mental state of mind to get out there and get a feel of the ball. So it was a real positive day. It was a long day to be honest for the players.

"A lot of them were there from 7.45a.m and then the first group trained at 10.30a.m and the second group at 11.45a.m so it was a long day.

"The players have come back in good condition which we would expect being professional footballers but it was a good day.

"And it hasn't just happened overnight," he explained. "There's been a lot of discussions over the last number of weeks and there's been a lot of protocols we've had to get in place.

"Today was the first day but I think all the work that went on behind the scenes to make sure it was a success went on over the last course of the last three and a half weeks since this tournament was muted.

"A lot of work went on behind the scenes from office staff, the Board of Directors and the coaches who all devised a plan on how to get back. That's the part people won't see. People will see the lads all turned up today, did a wee session and then went home.

"Danny Meenan is the Covid compliance officer they've brought on board and to say Danny has been working extremely hard would be an understatement.

"There were a lot of people who pulled together a lot of things to make sure we got back. Aileach Football Club for instance for giving us the facility which they had to work extremely hard to get up to speed. So today was the culmination of a lot of things.

"I knew it would be a smooth passage because I've been heavily involved in all the decisions that went on behind the scenes. With the testing things have moved very quickly and that's the way we wanted it.

"Obviously the players came in today and took part in an hour and 20 minute session. We only had 14 players in the first session and 10 players in the second session.

"It was great but it was still unusual we didn't have the full group there. The new normal is normal. We have sanitisation stations and when possible social distancing. It's one step at a time. We have to get temperatures taken four times a day. We have to record all our data.

"So it's different and the players have a big responsibility to make sure that we do our part right.

"We're hoping we can move along and the guidelines will improve."

While yesterday's session was just an introductory one as the coaches attempt to ease the players back into training and get used to the new protocols, Devine admits they will be very much working towards the four team tournament planned for July for the four European qualified teams.

"Absolutely, it's good to have that to work towards. My reading of it is that the tournament will give us three quality games leading into European competition which is brilliant.

"The last thing you want to do is work extremely hard over the course of a full season to get into Europe and for that to just be thrown upon you with no league campaign or no possibility to have friendlies."

And Devine admits it's been a bit of a rollercoaster as government guidelines have changed so rapidly over the past number of days.

"We're like everyone else. We had zoom calls with the players at the weekend and then within a few hours the guidelines had changed where it went up to 14 players and one coach allowed on the training ground.

"We just stuck to the plan we had and hopefully things can move quicker than we're expecting. But we're very much waiting on word coming to us on a daily basis to say what we can do and when we can do it."

Derry's difficulty is that it's stuck between two jurisdictions who are in two different phases of lockdown and so attempting to secure a training ground wasn't straight forward.

And so Devine was extremely grateful to those at Aileach Football Club for providing an 'ideal' facility for their opening training session.

"It's very difficult for us because we're in the middle of two jurisdictions. We're working with the FAI and southern government. It's difficult but the guys at Aileach, we've worked with them over a number of years.

"Our Academy teams play there and the facilities and setting they have is fantastic. It's private and safe. The venue was ideal for us and to be fair the people who work at that club are magnificent and brilliant towards the football club.

"That relationship is so important and that's one of the things we said coming into the club, building that relationship with the local public is key. Aileach has been brilliant."

In terms of using other training facilities, Devine will play it by ear.

"We will see everyday and see what's happening with both governments and see what's opening and what's not opening. We're just trying to keep ourselves right and making sure we're ready to go. We hope for a bit of good news everyday but healthwise in the north west over this last few days there's been a lot of positivity and hopefully we can build on that and move forward."