Rory Feel-s Bohs are on right track
DAIRE WALSH
DESPITE some high-profile departures, new recruit Rory Feely insists Bohemians are on the right track to success under manager Keith Long.
In addition to Daniel Mandroiu’s move to Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers, the north Dubliners have also bid farewell to the likes of Dinny Corcoran, Danny Grant, Evan Ferguson and Andre Wright.
Grant and Ferguson have transferred to Huddersfield Town and Brighton respectively, while Wright has pitched up at Ayr United.
However, these losses have been largely offset by the arrival of seven players into the club – including Feely from St Patrick’s Athletic.
“You could see it over the last few years,” said Feely. “Their squad is just getting stronger and stronger, even if they are losing some younger players to England.
“Which is kind of great for the league itself, with younger players moving on and the other clubs across in England seeing what kind of quality Ireland can produce,” Feely said.
“Bohs were lucky enough to be able to fill in the spots there and keep the squad stronger. Keep the hardcore of the squad they’ve had over the last few years. Their performances and positions have just been getting better and better.”
Campaign
Last year saw the Gypsies claiming runners-up spot at the end of a truncated top-flight campaign – 11 points adrift of Rovers.
Yet Hoops supremo Stephen Bradley has since lost Jack Byrne to APOEL Nicosia. With so much of their attacking play having centred around the Ireland star, it could lead to a more open title race this time.
“It’s kind of the unknown what the season is going to hold in the coming year,” he added.
“At Bohemians all we can do is just try and get ourselves the best start to the season as possible. We’re all really looking forward to getting back training and getting ourselves working.
“Hopefully get together as a team and put in those performances.
“It does look like the season might be able to open up a bit more than the last few years, where there was just the two or three at the top. Hopefully we’ll see ourselves up there this year.”
By joining Bohs, Feely is following in the footsteps of his older brother Kevin, who made 28 league appearances for the Gypsies before a move to Charlton Athletic in 2012.
Delayed
He will have to wait a while longer to make his competitive debut, with the start of the Premier Division delayed until March 19 at the earliest.
Collective training is yet to resume at Bohs and for now Feely is reliant on remote training to keep himself in shape.
“Unfortunately it was delayed a bit more and hopefully it actually does go ahead.
“Pretty much once I signed we were just given the stuff to do for three or four weeks before we need to be back for pre-season.
“We’ve been given a few running sessions to do. Just on our own, in isolation within your five kilometres.”