DERRY City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins admits signing players from League of Ireland clubs has been frustrating and that’s why he’s targeting fresh faces from across the water to strengthen his squad during next month’s transfer window.
The Candystripes, who have been linked with Cork City striker Ruairi Keating, have already added Scottish winger Paul McMullan and more recruits may arrive from Scotland or England.
“We’re close to one or two things being done,” he insisted.
“In our league it’s really, really hard to get players who are in contract, it’s really hard, so it’s maybe easier, especially attacking players, to get them from outside the league and from that end of the pitch that’s the market we’re looking at.
“We obviously took Paul McMullan from Dundee and we have to look at that market because once you speak to clubs about players that they have from within our league, then it’s very, very difficult to get them and that’s been made pretty clear very early on.
“Because of that then we have to look outside the league for those types of positions.”
One man who was believed to be on Higgins’ wanted list was Lincoln City striker Freddie Draper, the teenager who had a successful first half of the season on loan at Drogheda United, scoring eight goals with three assists, but the front man is expected to remain in England.
“Obviously Freddie Draper had an outstanding first half to the season at Drogheda but he’ll be playing his football in England next season,” confirmed the Derry gaffer.
Following Monday night’s top of the table clash at champions Shamrock Rovers, the Brandywell men’s 1-0 defeat means they now sit seven points behind the leaders, but Higgins is taking positives from that Tallaght Stadium encounter.
Derry travel to Shelbourne on Friday evening and Higgins hopes that the likes of captain Patrick McEleney, Will Patching and Michael Duffy will return in the coming weeks to boost his attacking options, which he concedes have been limited in recent weeks.
“We got into that attacking third area more times than enough on Monday night,” he added.
“We need to just stick at it, dig in, keep fighting and we’ve McMullan available for next week onwards, Patrick, Michael and Will are all working extremely hard to get fit and they are four unbelievably talented footballers to welcome back hopefully in the not too distant future.
“It’s obviously difficult at the moment but we’re more than confident that there’s good times ahead.”
Elsewhere on Friday, leaders Shamrock Rovers visit Dundalk in a full programme of matches.
