Mark Connolly: Derry City ready to fight back after rolling with the punches

The 34 year-old Monaghan man leads the Brandywell club to Belfield on Friday night in the third round of the FAI Cup knowing the competition he won with Derry in 2022 could salvage what has been a wreckage of their season.

​"I just want to put smiles on people's faces, get the enjoyment factor back," said Connolly who guided Derry to victory over Sligo Rovers in his impressive debut in the Brandywell hotseat.

The club has been under intense scrutiny throughout a turbulent season, and has been rolling with the punches. Now it's time to fight back!

"Any person that walks through that door, whether it's a player or a member of staff – whoever it is – they're here for the right reasons. "They're here to fight for Derry City," insisted Connolly during his first interview following Tiernan Lynch's departure last Wednesday.

His first major challenge as interim manager was dealing with the media frenzy surrounding the James McClean controversy and his return to training after reports the club had terminated his contract.

There's no playbook for such a scenario when earning your coaching badges. Connolly was in a difficult position when fielding questions from the media this week but he reiterated that his full focus was on steadying the ship.

"There's been a lot of punches thrown at us at the moment and that's why I ask that people stick together. We really need the fans to stick with us.

"I see the work that goes on behind the scenes and people are trying to do everything right for Derry City; for the city and for the football club.

"I can't reiterate that enough, we need people to stick behind us because we're a one club city and we need everyone pushing in the right direction, and we will go in the right direction," he promised.

Connolly will prioritise first team affairs until a permanent replacement for Lynch is appointed but the former skipper insists there will be a full review of the football club.

He was best qualified to step into the breach after Lynch’s sudden exit. Ultimately he brought the new signings to the club and had played with several members of the current team not so long ago.

"That's never an easy decision [sacking a manager]. I think it's been difficult but every decision the club makes and that Philip [O'Doherty] makes is for the best of Derry City.

"Moving forward it's about doing a complete review of the club. It's a monster of a club.

"Someone has lost their job obviously which is extremely disappointing to see but as a football club we now need to move forward. Obviously, I've been asked to take the reins for now. Like always, since I came here as a player it's always been, give absolutely everything to Derry City and nothing changes on that front.

"In the meantime, myself, Philip and Paddy [Simpson] and everyone behind the scenes will review everything and look at what way we want to move the club forward.

"It’s an amazing football club with amazing people. Obviously, I've seen first-hand now behind the scenes. Staff in the office, Philip and Paddy [Simpson] and the work they do. They hurt whenever it's not going well. They're putting everything in to make this place the amazing football club we know it can be.”

The appointment of the next manager is a crucial one. There’s an element of risk with every managerial appointment but lessons have been learned and the Board will be careful not to repeat mistakes.

"As I said, the review is complete and utterly from top to bottom of the football club. We need people here who are fighting for Derry City and that's exactly what we're trying to build now."

Appointed Director of Football in June the former Dundee United defender immersed himself in the relentless world of dealing with agents, pursuing transfers, contract talks and youth academy structures. It's a tough gig but one he’s been relishing.

"It's been a crazy few weeks. It's been tough but it's also been amazing. I've got to come back to a football club I love. A place that I love. Whatever the job is, whatever I'm asked to do I will always do it. That will always be the case until the day I leave.

"I was like that as a player and now I'm back a wee bit higher up. I'm just here to give everything. All I want to see is Derry City being successful.

"It's not going to happen today or tomorrow but we are trying to push it and we will get it to where it needs to be.

"We just need people to understand it takes a bit of time. We're trying to put the right foundations in place to bring the club forward. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster but when you're at a football club that you love and care about you'll do everything you can to make it work."

The club has changed its transfer strategy and having the right character was a prerequisite when it came down to a player’s suitability to join the club. Attracting players during a notoriously difficult summer window has been a challenge.

“There's been no stone left unturned. We've tried every avenue, everywhere we can to get the right people. I think that's the big thing. We're trying to get the right characters at the football club.

"We want people that want to play for Derry City; that want to be engrossed in the city and fully behind what we're trying to do here. Good people create a really good environment around a football club.” Has it been enjoyable despite the chaos of the past fortnight?

“Yeah, it's been enjoyable. It's been difficult at times. It's been a big learning curve.

For now the focus is on UCD and a chance to put a difficult few weeks behind them but Connolly’s braced for bigger challenges ahead.