Derry skipper Michael Duffy reflects on Tiernan Lynch's downfall

Lynch and his assistant and brother Seamus, were relieved of their duties on Wednesday morning after 18 months in charge with 10 league matches remaining and the club in sixth spot.

The Belfast man had overseen the morning training session at Owenbeg as normal but was later dismissed after an unexpected meeting with chairman Philip O'Doherty and club director Patrick Simpson.

The Derry squad was then ushered into the canteen at around 1pm to be informed of the news and Duffy admits it took him by surprise.

"We just found out not so long ago and it's a weird vibe with the players getting called in to be told that," he said. "It's obviously not nice seeing someone lose their job, either.

"As players, we have to move on quickly because there's a match on Friday. We have to regroup, get together and get ready for Sligo.

"I'd just like to thank Tiernan as well," he added. "This year it hasn't worked out and that's football but I'd like to wish him all the best in whatever comes next."

Derry, who were held to their 12th draw of the season against St Pat's at Richmond Park last Sunday have won just SIX of their 26 league games this term.

Ultimately, poor results, inconsistency, and a growing disconnect with supporters who continuously called for his head left the club's hierarchy with no choice but to part ways with 17 months remaining on Lynch’s contract.

"Results is what it comes down to," admitted Duffy. "We haven't been good enough this year, end of story. There was a lot of expectations at the start of the year from us, from the manager and where we are now in the league, it just hasn't been good enough.

"At the end of the day it's the manager who pays the price but us, as players, we have to admit we haven't been good enough. We go out there every Friday and play. We have to change that as well."

The Brandywell club has been hitting the headlines nationwide for all the wrong reasons this season. League of Ireland pundit Alan Cawley labelled the club 'a laughing stock' this week. Duffy didn't disagree with that assessment but claimed hearing public criticism of his hometown club 'hurt'.

"It really does hurt," claimed the former Celtic man. "I just try to focus on games. The only way you can make that better is by turning draws and losses into wins.

"We have been a laughing stock all year. It's been embarrassing. It's been story after story every couple of weeks about us which is not good."

The months of uncertainty surrounding the manager's future haven't been easy for the players but where does the skipper believe it all went so badly wrong this year?

"It's hard to say," he reflected. "Obviously we had a big turnover in players again. We just struggled to get our best formation, our best team out on the pitch. We were changing formation quite a lot, changing personnel and players.

"I know you have to do that to try and figure out your team but it was happening a lot, and we couldn't really get into a swing of results.

"After all the expectations it was defeat after defeat and draws and the place can be tough. It's obviously tough on the manager as well to try and figure out which way to go. Maybe that's why you try something different. I just feel we couldn't find our best team and we had no consistency at all."

The growing unrest amongst the fanbase and the chants for Lynch to 'go home' after last month's 4-2 home defeat to Waterford felt like the point of no return.

"I haven't heard anything like that since I've been back at the club. “It's just tough. It wasn't nice coming off the pitch and hearing those boos. Tiernan is still a human. He has a family and it's not nice seeing someone getting that stick but fans are passionate aren't they?

"And the expectation from all of us – players, fans and staff – was that we wanted to do good things so I can see why fans were very frustrated.

"At the end of the day it does come down to the manager. He faces the consequences, but as players we still need to do better.

"In saying that, over the last month or so you could see a bit of an improvement in the group and some of the new lads coming in. “What I still like to see is players giving everything for the club and I think for the last while you really saw that from the players. “Hopefully we can build on that and try to finish the season like that.

"The last few months there's been ongoing speculation about the manager and it's been all over social media. Players just need to blank that out and play every time we have a game and look forward to the next one.

"This [Lynch's sacking] happened today and obviously all the players know now and we'll have a chat in the morning when we're all back in. Our full focus will be on Friday. We can still get something out of this season and that has to be our main focus."

Duffy views the change as an opportunity for a 'fresh start' for everyone.

"It will be a fresh start for the players now and give us something to kick on and build on until the end of the season. For us going into Friday, it's no more excuses.

"All this has happened and it hasn't been good enough. The first few months there's been plenty of rows, plenty of trying to fix things. Players need to take more responsibility as well. Come Friday there's no excuses. We need to go out and play and dig in for each other and get three points."

His role as club captain takes on even greater significance over the next few weeks.

"I just need to keep the players together. Keep the group together. I know there's been other stuff going on as well but I've seen players giving everything in training and in matches which is all I want. So hopefully we can finish the season strongly.

"It's a massive role. There's probably some things I could've done better too throughout the year. I can see the players giving everything - that's the main thing.

"I'll just keep driving that until the end of the year with the boys and keep putting it in their heads that we can get something out of this year.

"There's still plenty of games left to climb up that table and we have the cup which is absolutely massive. We're three games away from getting to the Aviva.

"There's two trophies to win in this league and we're still in with a chance of winning one of them. That will be my main focus with the group. I already know the players will be behind me on that."