 Time for our League of Ireland chat on a Thursday on the score program and our guest this week We're not going too far. We're only heading to any show and joining us in the program once again is former funharp school keeper Gavin Collin Welcome back to the score Gavin. Hi, Arsene. How's things? We're good Gavin not so good around Derry City at the moment of buts Declan Devine in the club part of company this morning No big surprise in that move by Derry Suppose not We talked a few weeks ago about know them luck and weak and and gonna struggle and I think I think we were proved right They look very light. I'm not too sure if it's Declan's fault or the signings or the budgets or what? You always feel sorry when a manager loses her job, you know for them, but suppose Derry had to do something because The longer goes on without a one because more difficult and obviously they don't want to go down, you know Yeah If we look back at last year, of course, it wasn't the season that they wanted They spent a lot of money in the 2020 season and they decided to change things go with a more youthful a more local side Obviously saving on budget has that turned out just to be too risky now for the club. It was a decision that was too risky for them It was risky for Declan's post this point as a club we don't know how their finances are in terms of protecting the club and and in the background and We've seen it before with clubs in the League of Ireland overspending and and taking years and years to recover or going out of business So it depends in terms of blood in that money young players and local players at the same time is Difficult and it's League of Ireland's a tough tough division. The Premier League is tough So probably yeah in terms of on the pitch is going to be a struggle, you know and Listen, the right was on the wall and away you go six games in and you don't take a victory for Declan divine But there was signs of improvement will give him credit because the young players You've got the likes of Ronan voice who who was really really good this last couple of games for dairy Young Brendan bars and other fine example of youthful players brought up up through the ranks that met his debut in recent weeks as well So the performances were starting to get better Declan felt they weren't too far away from that one one Which probably would have kept them his job. Do you think we're really far from that victory? Probably not. I thought that what's the last two games and what's the other way? I thought they were quite they were decent, you know, without being great They were the record with soccer points of a goal probably in both games ended up with draws But they luck decent as you say some of the young lads coming through from the old sir league and on the 19s No, they were caught themselves quite well, but it is a big act for so many of them at the one time Where where the first ones coming from that's difficult the next three games are slaggo bows and fun herbs So like they're they're all tough games and I say longer goes on without that first victory the more Difficult that locks for them, you know, yeah, just before we look at their next games Is it a welcome move by the club then today and Declan parting ways? Well, will the dairy supporters be happy with that? I think they will think the dairy supporters from day one We're on Declan's back probably Out of order wrong, but that's football. It's a results business Declan Declan's very good coach very good manager has done well in football So again, but as a decision for dairy and the fans, I think it's right to do it area rather than let it go Who they're gonna replace them with I don't know I think they need to go for a bit of experience and Management at this point to sort of set it steady the ship and try and get results, but Yeah, I think it's the right decision. Yeah, so Hope already the chairman of the club is a big decision here to make now Does he stick with what Declan was doing and do they decide to stay with a local based manager? Obviously, you've got the likes of Paddy McCourt there that could step up possibly to the position Kevin dairy could Form maybe a part of a partnership at management level to or are they gonna try and check further a field? I Don't know I'd say at this point. They probably have a fair idea and have talked to whoever maybe that they're looking The know there's likes of Jared Luttle mentioned funny perf is available Paul Hagerty at harps know his dairy connections possibly could be the man to stay sort of steady the ship for them in there It's hard to know In terms of Paddy McCourt has rolled in the club. I'm not sure if moving on the senior management at this point is for him So I don't know Kevin the area I think was let go in summer. So you know the difficult Paddy McLaughlin's doing quite well at Cuffinville We'll be we'll be surely mentioned for the job as well And I think the scene this morning that Jim McGinnis has been tired about first rope That would be a left field one, but he never know, you know, yeah They've got slago now it's top against bottom so it is but in circumstances like this Gavin And we have seen it in the past it happens in the majority of occasions when there's a change of manager We've seen it at Spurs actually last night when there's a change They dig deep and they get a victory Yeah You got a one at the showgrounds on Saturday I'm not too sure physically or if they're up for it, but yeah, you always see it if there's new manager in place So players about the impress Jose Marino's one of top managers in the world gets a sack from Spurs Youngest manager ever in the Premiership comes in and gets a one in the first game. So it happens It definitely happens Well, I will or not against slago. I'm not too sure slago are going really well at the minute as well Yeah, and of course it's big games to come for Derry as well bohemians after that And then we've got the Northwest Darby harps against Derry at the Brandiwale the Maybank holiday Oh, this was sort of adding to the ball of this Northwest Darby fixture and the magnitude of it, Gavin great and That's Though the last few years is first time a long time the tarps are on a par or no gun and was equals to Derry or more So it'll be very instance It's really petty that there's some crowds and fans at this point with harps going so well and like big games I get when they are going in with confidence to get a result You know, it's really it brings it home that there is no supporters going to see it, you know Yeah, what about the harps then at the moment of they've had a defeat a draw on a victory since we last spoke I gave in their last two games has been that loss And and then the draw on Tuesday night away to Longford, but they're still setting three points off the top They're still on the top half off off the table Maybe they weren't lucky not to get anything out of flying care park the last night or Bishop's Gate rather against Ferds, but things still motoring well for the Balboff a Very well, maybe last a wee bit of momentum in the last two games But look, I think I think they've got experience in squad the management team Have experience of losing the morning and and and get bouncing back. I've no doubt Till points back this week. They've a huge game Friday against Pats like they go up level with them Or maybe even above them if they beat them. So it's been a brilliant start By all accounts in Longford, they played okay. They don't very well They should have won the game. They had the best chances So they come away disappointed and in a way fixture in the League of Ireland is Always positive when you come away with the draw and being disappointed The Slago game again was tight. I don't think they were great I think Slago just aids it but seated a per goal again If you don't give that away you come away with a point, which will be doing the light it was, you know Yeah Slago, of course, they lost and not Darby St Patrick's athletic and other sides in the leading tree with the moment Well, let's be a real good measure then But seven games in as we come towards the end of the series where our harps are actually up. I think so I think I think they're getting the respect that they deserve at the minute I think I think all them clubs are standing up and no one that they're gonna be up there I do I do you think they'll finish in the top five or six this season I think they have the squad they have to do that They've shown with players missing and who's coming in and doing very well The players really playing the top of our game. They look physically strong and discipline. They don't consider a lot So like they're not gonna lose many games. They're not gonna lose that easy, you know I'm sure some paths will be coming coming the ball fee and no nearly happy with a point if they get it, you know Yeah Harps haven't scored in the last two games the goals were flying in from the likes of In the opening three matches So they were Gavin a goal on Friday night would be nice just to keep that confidence going Oh, yeah, I can say that I suppose Adam Foley's got most of the goals this season So again, you know, if his goals try up, you're looking for somebody else Maybe my failures come up with a goal. No, some of our strikers, you know So if they go now a game or two and don't and don't score then they start to wonder then well words goals going to come from But I think I think they have a threat from set pieces and the defenders are threats as well So there are threats them all over the pitch, you know Okay, let's look at the other game Shamrock Rovers against Bose as the other match on Friday night So that was it's gonna be the ones on TV and this one could be a real interesting game Rovers with late goals the last two matches Keeping their push on it at the top of the table They seem to have the look of the champions at the minute. So they have given I will lucky make your own luck scoring late goals and Grinding the results when you're not playing as fluent as maybe they were last season as a sign of a good side a great side and I think they are still They've come on to the radar slightly and they're still top of the league. So They will still be the team to beat it coming out of the season I don't know gonna come good. They've got draw harder. There's a big derby match down there on on Saturday They drew with a right on Tuesday night. So they did they felt they should have won the game But with the change of management there as well and a change of structure on on the line as Can you see done dock now turning things around in the coming weeks? You would expect them to Put a term out the minute supposed with management who was the manager and what was going on behind the scenes there Which is is never good in the football club. No, somebody needs to be in charge The players they have obviously they should be well up the league the budgets what they spend on the professionalism But at the same time results and they haven't won a game yet They're still down along what they're any of the bottom of the league So they will they won't move up the table Challenge for the league this year. I don't think yeah One of the game at the weekends on Saturday as well six o'clock Waterford against that longford town This is that the type of game that you could see a share of the spoils on so does the work I would say so and probably this stage of season is probably early to call it a six-pointer but a one-for-ealer team would be would be huge here because I Think them two clubs plus, you know One or another will be in the bottom half of the table or fighting relegation. So so it's a huge game for both clubs at this point Okay, and Gavin just finally on the Ulster senior league any movement yet as to when you guys you're gonna get a return No, but look the government supposed are talking more positive. So we hope to get back training and may some time Well, they wait to start the new season in August like our leagues I don't know. I think it's too long for footballers to be out of football I think the needy are gonna some sort of local tournaments or something within the leagues just to get guys guys back in the pitch Maybe for June and July And then get out in the fresh air and stuff, you know, so again Looking forward to getting back, but it has to be safe to do so, you know, yeah Okay, we'll wait and see what happens. Hope to be back real soon Gavin as always. Thanks for joining us our League of Ireland chat Cheers. Thanks. Thank you