McClean's Derry exit not 'any real surprise' - Coyle

Published3 hours ago

Former Derry City striker Liam Coyle said that James McClean's exit from the club did not come as "any real surprise" after it was announced on Wednesday that his contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

The 37-year-old, who has not played since July, had previously described an earlier attempt by the League of Ireland club to terminate his contract as "incomprehensible" and said his exile from the squad was "one of the most difficult periods in my life, personally and professionally".

But in a joint statement released on Wednesday, the club and McClean said they are "satisfied with the outcome and are pleased to move forward constructively".

Coyle, who won two league titles with the Candystripes, believes it is a decision which suits both parties, especially with the club preparing for the FAI Cup final against Waterford on 8 November.

"Over the last three or four months there's been a real breakdown between himself and the club," Coyle said.

"The ex-manager and then the new manager has come in and it was always going to be on the cards that James was leaving at some stage. Maybe now, with the cup final, the club and him have decided it's the best course of action.

"I think it got to the stage where neither party was ever going to step down from what was said or what happened and once it got to that stage when the club felt James overstepped the mark a few times, there was no way back from it.

"Unfortunately, there's nobody bigger than any football club and James paid the price for it."

McClean leaves Derry City after contract dispute

• Published10 hours ago

McClean leaves Derry City after contract dispute

Published10 hours ago

'It's a situation no one wanted to see'

Having started his career at Institute, McClean moved to Derry in 2008 and spent three years at the club before joining Sunderland in 2011.

He then went on to have spells at Wigan, West Brom, Stoke and Wrexham, before rejoining Derry in January.

It is a move that has quickly turned sour and Coyle is disappointed that the contract dispute has been played out so publicly.

"I don't know the ins and outs of it but I think the club have been steadfast in what they've done," he continued.

"Maybe James, in the future, he'll let people know what the grievances were. Me, personally, I'm not privy to what went on.

"Both parties at the time should have sat down when it happened and thrashed it out then rather than it get to this stage.

"James has acknowledged that and the club have acknowledged they could have handled it better too, but when it gets to a stage of having an affect on everyone around the club, it was only going to come to one conclusion."

Coyle added that it is a sad end to what was meant to be a welcome homecoming for McClean, who won 103 caps for Republic of Ireland.

"It's a situation no one wanted to see. When James came back there was a lot of hype about it.

"It's unfortunate for James, he's an icon in these parts and the Derry people love him for what he's done in his career, but unfortunately football is a fast moving game and doesn't stop for anyone and you have to accept that at times.

"It's sad he'll not get to play, especially in a cup final."

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